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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2012
Phone: (212) 554-3296
UANI Calls on Ericsson to End Its Iran Business, Stop Working with Human Rights Abuser MTN Irancell
New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, issued the following statement today regarding reports that Swedish telecom giant Ericsson plans to extend its network in Iran and has pledged to support MTN Irancell until 2021:
We condemn Ericsson's plans to double down on its Iran business, and urge it to completely pull out of Iran. Ericsson's previous pledges to scale back its Iran business and "conduct [its] business in a way that is not directly or indirectly infringing on human rights" ring hollow and disingenuous given recent revelations of its extensive long-term work plans and profits it expects to earn.
Ericsson should under no circumstances be working with MTN Irancell. MTN is a direct partner of the Iranian regime and has blood on its hands from its involvement in spying on and tracking Iranian dissidents and cutting off their means of communication during periods of political protest.
In refusing to end its Iran business, Ericsson is exposing its partners and shareholders to intolerable reputational risk. Instead of responding to the concerns of the international community and taking the responsible course of action, Ericsson has decided to mislead the public about its intentions while increasing its involvement with the regime and MTN - one of the least respected corporate entities in the world.
If Ericsson continues with this course of action, it will surely suffer additional reputational and financial harm as well as increased scrutiny from lawmakers. UANI and its supporters will call for the company to be held accountable under U.S. sanctions law.
UANI has, since its 2008 founding, been urging Ericsson to end its Iran business. In an April letter to Ericsson, UANI called on it to "follow the lead of other responsible global corporations and end its business activities in Iran, particularly in light of the fact that technology provided by Ericsson is being used to perpetrate terrible crimes against the people of Iran."
In August, UANI noted pledges from Ericsson to not conduct new business in Iran and cease the provision of "lawful intercept" technology to the regime, but called on Ericsson to completely pull out of Iran and end any relationships with MTN Irancell.
Since 2000, Ericsson has received more than $200 million in contracts from the U.S. Government, nearly all from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Click here to read UANI's April 12, 2012 letter to Ericsson.
Click here to read UANI's August 2, 2012 letter to Ericsson.
Click here to send a message to Ericsson.
Click here to visit UANI's Tech & Telecom page.
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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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