UANI Highlights 66% Decline in Iran's Automotive Production, Success of Autos Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 11, 2012 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com  Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Highlights 66% Decline in Iran's Automotive Production, Success of Autos Campaign New York, NY - On Thursday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) highlighted newly released industry data showing that Iran is facing an "unprecedented decline" in its automotive manufacturing sector. Production was down 66% year-on-year last month and 42% for all of 2012. Auto prices in Iran are soaring due to sanctions and the ongoing currency crisis, and in order to prevent massive layoffs, the auto industry is reportedly seeking a billion dollar bailout from the Iranian government. Said UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace: Iran's auto industry is dominated by the Iranian regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Now, it is feeling the effects of international pressure campaigns and the crash of the rial. 2012 has seen auto companies like Hyundai and Porsche making the historical decisions to pull out of Iran, and others limiting their shipments to Iran. The decline in Iran's auto production is directly the result of pressure from UANI and its partners, alongside international sanctions. The message is clear: responsible international auto companies will not continue to work in Iran, and Iran's economy will suffer more and more hardship until the regime decides to change course. We call on all auto manufacturers -- including Mazda, Nissan, Renault, and Peugeot -- to fully end their irresponsible business in Iran. We call on Congress to pass UANI's DRIVE Act, which would require automakers to certify they are not engaged in any business in Iran to be eligible for U.S. government contracts. UANI launched its "Auto Campaign" in March 2012. This year, Hyundai, Porsche, and Fiat have ended business in Iran in response to UANI campaigns and Peugeot stated it has stopped shipments of auto parts. In May, Ambassador Wallace testified about Iran's automotive industry before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. UANI has developed model legislation, the DRIVE Act, to require auto manufacturers to choose between American taxpayers and the regime. The DRIVE Act requires automakers to certify they are not engaged in any business in Iran, or engaged in the implementation of any agreement with Iranian entities in order to be eligible for U.S. government contracts or financial assistance. Click here to visit UANI's "Auto Campaign" page. Click here to read UANI's "DRIVE Act" legislation. Click here to view UANI's Iran Currency Tracker.   ###  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.

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