UANI Warns North American International Auto Show Participants: Iran is Not Worth the Risk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 9, 2017 press@uani.com UANI Warns North American International Auto Show Participants: Iran is Not Worth the Risk New Campaign Highlights Dangers Faced by Fiat Chrysler and other Major Auto Companies Pursuing Business in Iran Detroit, MI - Leaders of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) today launched a new campaign warning North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) participants of the numerous business risks they face should they engage with the Iranian auto industry. The NAIAS, held in Detroit January 8-22, is a premier gathering of the world's top automotive leaders and firms, including Fiat Chrysler, Kia Motors, Nissan, and Volkswagen -- all of which are reported to be in direct or indirect business negotiations with Iran. "Automakers brokering deals in Iran are supporting - both financially and technologically -- one of the largest economic sectors in Iran, which is dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a sanctioned terrorist organization," said UANI CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace. "American consumers have made it clear that they will not buy products from companies aiding the leading state-sponsor of terrorism whose rallying cry is "Death to America." Added UANI Chairman and former U.S. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman: "Doing business in Iran is a risky proposition for the automotive industry's employees, customers, and brands, and companies need to think twice before they choose to drive to Tehran." UANI first launched its Auto Campaign in 2012 and companies such as the Volvo Group, Hyundai, and Fiat Chrysler withdrew from Iran. Fiat Chrysler, however, reportedly has plans to potentially reenter the market allegedly by forming a joint company with Iran Khodro Group, one of Iran's largest automakers and a subsidiary of IDRO, an Iranian government body that controls companies involved in developing the regime's nuclear and missile programs. Auto companies also face the risk of unwittingly strengthening the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a sanctioned terrorist organization that controls a large portion of Iran's auto sector. The newly launched ad campaign includes TV, print, and digital ads that highlight these and other risks for the Auto Show participants and audience, and will continue running next week. "Doing business with Iran automotive sector means doing business with the IRGC. Italian companies, like Fiat, can find themselves inadvertently financing Iran's acts of terrorism around the world, including in Iraq and Syria. The risks are just too great," said Ambassador Giulio Terzi, former Foreign Minister of Italy and UANI Senior European Advisor. UANI has separately contacted automakers and companies across various economic sectors as part of the organization's global education campaign to warn companies of the business risks associated with conducting business in Iran. For more information, or to speak with UANI leadership, please contact: press@uani.com About UANI UANI is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan, advocacy group founded in 2008 by Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, former CIA Director Jim Woolsey, and Middle East Expert Ambassador Dennis Ross, that seeks to heighten awareness of the danger the Iranian regime poses to the world. ### Eye on Iran is a periodic news summary from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Eye on Iran is not intended as a comprehensive media clips summary but rather a selection of media elements with discreet analysis in a PDA friendly format. For more information please email press@uani.com. 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.