UANI Calls on Alitalia Airlines, Others, to End Iran Flights Due to IRGC Control of Airports

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 19, 2013 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com  Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Calls on Alitalia Airlines, Others, to End Iran Flights Due to IRGC Control of Airports New York, NY - Today, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) continued its Airports Campaign, calling on Italian airline Alitalia to stop its services to and from Iran. UANI also called on both Russia's Aeroflot and Turkish Airlines to cease their Iran operations. Alitalia, the flag carrier and national airline of Italy, maintains regular flights and cargo services to Iran, where airports are controlled by the blacklisted Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The IRGC's control of transportation hubs is essential to achieving its illicit and deadly aims. Other airlines have taken the responsible action of ceasing operations in Iran, including AirAsia, British Midland International, British Airways, Air France-KLM, and Austrian Airlines. Iranian regime officials frequently use commercial airlines to travel to international conferences and business meetings. Were Alitalia and the remaining outliers to cease their Iran operations, the regime would be severely isolated and ultimately forced to choose between having a nuclear weapon, or having the ability to freely travel internationally. In a letter sent to Alitalia CEO, Andrea Ragnetti, UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, wrote: By a variety of methods, including through its ties to the Ministry of Transportation and Housing, the IRGC has exerted its authority and control over Iran's airports. ... For example, according to Mohammed Ali Moshaffeq, an aide to dissident Iranian politician Mehdi Karrubi, at least 25 gates at Tehran International Airport operate outside the official customs office and have been placed under control of the IRGC. In fact, it is reported that the IRGC runs the main international airport of Iran, Imam Khomeini International Airport ("IKA") - the same airport in which Alitalia has an active presence. Disturbingly, IKA also functions as "a hub for arresting political dissidents fleeing the Islamic Republic... with boarding gate security run by the [IRGC]." ... The IRGC leverages its control over the airports and other transportation hubs for financial gain and to fund its illicit activities, as well as to deliver arms to its terrorist proxies and import sensitive materials necessary for the regime's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. **** Unfortunately, despite the fact that the IRGC is clearly in control of the airports, Alitalia continues to have a significant presence in Iran. Alitalia maintains an Iran office in Tehran, as advertised on its website. Alitalia provides both regular passenger flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) as well as cargo services to Tehran's Imam Khomeini Airport. As you know, all airport users are subject to various fees for using the airport facilities, pertaining to landing, passenger service, parking, terminal facilities, security and other services. In this case, Alitalia is paying such fees directly to the IRGC. UANI has sent separate letters to Aeroflot Airlines and Turkish Airlines, calling for the end of their Iran operations. UANI has previously called on Lufthansa, Europe's largest airline, to end its services to and from Iran. Click here to read UANI's full letter to Alitalia. Click here to send a message to Alitalia. Click here to read UANI's letter to Aeroflot Airlines. Click here to read UANI's letter to Turkish Airlines. Click here to learn more about UANI's Airports Campaign. ### 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.

Forward email American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran | 45 Rockefeller Plaza | New York | NY | 10111