UANI Calls on Greek Shipper Victor Restis to Fully and Finally Clarify Inconsistent Statements Regarding His and EST's Iran Dealings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 10, 2014   Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com  Phone: (212) 554-3296   UANI Calls on Greek Shipper Victor Restis to Fully and Finally Clarify Inconsistent Statements Regarding His and EST's Iran Dealings For Months, Restis and His U.S. Lawyers Denied Doing Business in Iran, Now Restis's Greek Lawyer Admits It   New York, NY - Today, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on Victor Restis, the Greek shipper and alleged money launderer and embezzler, to fully and finally clarify the inconsistent statements regarding his and Enterprises Shipping and Trading S.A. (EST)'s dealings in Iran. For months, Restis and his U.S. lawyers have adamantly denied doing any business in Iran. Yet last week, Restis's Greek lawyer admitted that Restis-owned and ETS-managed vessels have in fact visited the port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, Iran (BIK). [See email here.] Mr. Restis has previously said "We have never had dealings with the Iranian Government, ministry or any Iranian people, period." His U.S. Attorney Theodore Margolis said: "To be clear, Mr. Restis does not do business with Iran nor does he sanction others who do." Yet after UANI last week provided evidence disproving these statements, Mr. Restis's Greek lawyer Antonis Lagadianos of the Ince law firm of Piraeus, Greece confirmed that the Helvetia One, Bergen Max and African Wildcat made eight (8) separate ports of call on Iranian ports during 2012-2013, including at BIK. Among other concerns, the BIK port is host to the Iranian regime-controlled front company, Tidewater Middle East Co., which has been designated as a sanctioned entity by both the United States and European Union. Mr. Lagadianos asserts that such visits were for humanitarian purposes to deliver various grains, but notably ports of call at BIK's Grain Terminal entail visits to Tidewater. The U.S. Treasury Department stated that "the Iranian Government has repeatedly used Tidewater-managed ports to export arms or related material in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions." Said UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace: Mr. Restis must speak the truth. Either he will persist in denying doing business in Iran, or he will admit that EST vessels visited Bandar Imam Khomeini's grain terminal and the sanctions-designated Tidewater Middle East Company. Since his statements have been revealed to be untruthful, Mr. Restis has gone silent. Ultimately, the person that can best speak for Mr. Restis is Mr. Restis. No responsible persons, businesses or ports should do business with Mr. Restis and his related firms until he reconciles these inconsistent statements and confirms that he will no longer do business of any kind with Iran. Mr. Restis and EST must end any and all business relationships in Iran, and all EST vessels must cease making ports of call in Iran - particularly given Mr. Restis's persistent and systemic untruthfulness regarding these matters. His untruthful statements cast a long shadow over the nature of the business he and EST have done in Iran. Click here to view Antonis Lagadianos's email regarding EST vessels visits to Iran ports and UANI's counsel's response. Click here to view statements by Mr. Restis denying any business with Iran. Click here for news accounts of Mr. Restis's arrest and criminal charges. ### 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 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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