UANI Statement on Possible Delay of EU Insurance Ban on Iran Oil Shipments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 2012 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Statement on Possible Delay of EU Insurance Ban on Iran Oil Shipments New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, issued the following statement Wednesday regarding reports that the U.K. is seeking to persuade fellow EU members to postpone a ban on insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil by six months: It is imperative that the EU's ban on Iranian oil take effect as planned on July 1 and that all EU member countries confirm their commitment to a full and unified effort to increase the economic pressure on the Iranian regime. Iran's economy is feeling the impact of international sanctions, and it is now time to not only keep that pressure on, but increase it. The regime will not change course due to half-measures, and will always take advantage of loopholes and delays. The insurance and shipping sectors are areas where the international community can dramatically increase pressure on the regime. There are inherent risks in doing business in Iran, and if companies are forced to assume the full ramifications of those risks, they will be more likely to pull out. It is incumbent on the international community to show the regime its resolve in that it means what it says, and is willing to take whatever action is necessary to prevent Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon. The 'all options are on the table' approach to Iran is the correct one, but the regime will only take it seriously if the international community shows it is willing to follow through on already-planned sanctions. ###

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.