In Case You Missed It: "Rep. Griffin Targets Foreign Auto Manufacturers Doing Business with Iran"

In Case You Missed It: "Rep. Griffin Targets Foreign Auto Manufacturers Doing Business with Iran" The Hill Covers Op-Ed by U.S. Representative Tim Griffin & UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace [Click here to read Representative Griffin & Ambassador Wallace's Daily Caller Op-Ed, "The US can do more to pressure auto companies to sever ties with Iran."]   Rep. Griffin targets foreign auto manufacturers doing business with Iran By Julian Pecquet The Hill November 1, 2012 Foreign carmakers with ties to Iran would not be eligible for U.S. government contracts or financial assistance under proposed legislation. Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.) on Thursday called on Congress to prohibit foreign carmakers from doing business with Iran if they want to be eligible for U.S. government contracts or financial assistance. The first-term lawmaker joined former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Mark Wallace, the CEO of United Against Nuclear Iran, in a Daily Caller op-ed urging foreign auto companies to break ties with Iran. American companies are already prohibited from doing business with the Islamic Republic. "We are advocates of new legislation that would force auto manufacturers to choose between American taxpayers and the regime," they wrote. "It requires automakers to certify they are not engaged in any business in Iran in order to be eligible for U.S. government contracts or financial assistance. We ask others to join us." The legislation is expected to be introduced in the next Congress. Since Wallace's group launched its "Iran Watch List" in March, four companies - Fiat, Porsche, Hyundai and Kia - have dropped ties to Iran, leaving nine European and Japanese automakers. The proposed bill would increase U.S. pressure on them to cease business relations with Iran. "It is indeed impossible for an automaker to do responsible business in Iran, as having a presence there requires partnering with the government. Following an almost complete takeover by the regime, the industry is controlled by state-owned entities intent on securing foreign technology and funds," they wrote. "Given this situation, it is both dangerous and irresponsible for automakers to remain in Iran." Click here to read Representative Griffin & Ambassador Wallace's Daily Caller Op-Ed, "The US can do more to pressure auto companies to sever ties with Iran." Click here to visit UANI's "Auto Campaign" page. Click here to read UANI's "DRIVE Act" legislation. ###  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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