UANI Launches Shipping Certification Campaign, Calls on IACS to Stop Certifying Iranian, IRISL Vessels

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2012 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Launches Shipping Certification Campaign, Calls on IACS to Stop Certifying Iranian, IRISL Vessels New York, NY - On Friday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) launched its Shipping Certification Campaign, calling on members of the International Association of Classification Societies ("IACS") to stop certifying Iranian vessels and drilling rigs. Members of the London-based IACS enable the Iranian regime to maintain its access to global maritime trade and circumvent multilateral sanctions. Many also provide services to vessels of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines ("IRISL"), an entity sanctioned by the UN, U.S. and EU. In a letter sent this week to Pavel Shikhov, Chairman of the IACS Council, UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace wrote: As you know, IACS's certification services function as "seals of approval" for Iranian vessels. IACS certification therefore enables the Iranian regime to maintain its access to global maritime trade and circumvent multilateral sanctions via its ships, carriers and vessels. Iran's track-record of illicit shipping activities, including nuclear proliferation and arms smuggling, illustrates the fact that certification firms assume enormous liability when engaging in Iranian business. Given these concerns, it is incumbent on all firms to cease the provision of certification services to all Iranian vessels. For example, IACS members openly provide certification services to IRISL, Iran's national maritime carrier. IRISL was first sanctioned by the U.S. in September 2008 for its activities in support of the regime's ballistic missile and nuclear programs. (U.S. Treasury Department, "Major Iranian Shipping Company Designated for Proliferation Activity," 9/10/08) The UN and EU soon followed with their own sanctions in June 2010 and July 2010, respectively. (United Nations Security Council, "Resolution 1929," 6/9/10; European Union, "Regulation No. 668/2010," 7/26/10) Additionally, IRISL routinely engages in deceptive practices to conceal its activities and evade sanctions. According to a Reuters report in February 2012, since sanctions were imposed, IRISL has engaged in 878 changes to its fleet, "including 157 name changes, 94 changes of flag, 122 changes of operator, and 127 changes of registered ownership." (Reuters, "Special Report: Iran's cat-and-mouse game on sanctions," 2/15/12) By providing IRISL vessels certification services, IACS is directly aiding and abetting such deceptive and illegal activities. In light of these concerns UANI is launching a global "Shipping Certification Campaign" to call on all classification societies, including IACS, to instruct its members to cease the provision of certification or inspection services to all Iranian vessels. Such restrictions should remain in place until Iran ends its illegal nuclear weapons program, sponsorship of terrorism throughout the world, and egregious human rights abuses. UANI understands that three of IACS's thirteen members, the American Bureau of Shipping, Det Norske Veritas, and Lloyd's Register, have responded to the concerns of the international community and taken the responsible action of ending certification of Iranian vessels. IACS should reinforce the responsible actions of these members and formally adopt a policy stating that all members should no longer provide certification services for Iranian vessels. More broadly, UANI seeks a commitment from IACS and its members to cease the provision of certification services to all vessels docking in Iranian ports. These reasons are two-fold. First, Iran has a long track record of intentionally misleading international shipping companies and providing false cargo manifests. UANI has compiled a report of nine known incidents since January 2009 in which cargo either going to or from Iran contained military equipment or armaments in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. ... *** Given that Tidewater Middle East Co. ("Tidewater") controls Iran's cargo port facilities, it is imperative that shipping-related companies or service providers follow suit. Tidewater is owned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ("IRGC"), a known terrorist entity. ... UANI also informed IACS that it is working to help pass the "Ethical Shipping Inspections Act" which has been introduced by Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Senator Susan Collins (R-MN) and Senator Mark Begich (D-AK). The legislation "would prohibit the U.S. from delegating representative authority to classification societies that simultaneously conduct inspection, certification, and related services for Iran, North Korea, North Sudan, or Syria." UANI has requested a response from IACS by May 18, 2012. Click here to read UANI's full letter to IACS. Click here to send a message to IACS. ###

United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran should concern every American and be unacceptable to the community of nations. Since 1979 the Iranian regime, most recently under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's leadership, has demonstrated increasingly threatening behavior and rhetoric toward the US and the West. Iran continues to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations in their attempts to monitor its nuclear activities. A number of Arab states have warned that Iran's development of nuclear weapons poses a threat to Middle East stability and could provoke a regional nuclear arms race. In short, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran is a danger to world peace. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons.  UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons. The Objectives of United Against a Nuclear Iran Inform the public about the nature of the Iranian regime, including its desire and intent to possess nuclear weapons, as well as Iran's role as a state sponsor of global terrorism, and a major violator of human rights at home and abroad; Heighten awareness nationally and internationally about the danger that a nuclear armed Iran poses to the region and the world; Mobilize public support, utilize media outreach, and persuade our elected leaders to voice a robust and united American opposition to a nuclear Iran; Lay the groundwork for effective US policies in coordination with European and other allies; Persuade the regime in Tehran to desist from its quest for nuclear weapons, while striving not to punish the Iranian people, and; Promote efforts that focus on vigorous national and international, social, economic, political and diplomatic measures. UANI is led by an advisory board of outstanding national figures representing all sectors of our country.