On Tuesday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on Huawei Technologies, a Chinese telecommunications company, to immediately end its business in Iran. Through its extensive business in Iran, Huawei has been providing the Iranian regime with cellular and electronic technology that it has used to conduct surveillance on its citizens, and track down human rights activists and dissidents.
In a letter to Huawei executives, UANI President, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, wrote:
“… [M]any telecommunications firms have left Iran not only because of Iran’s dangerous and irresponsible behaviour with respect to its nuclear weapons program and sponsorship of terrorism, but because of the ample and documented evidence of Iranian officials using the technology provided by the companies to conduct surveillance and track down human rights activists and dissidents. The statement by William Plummer, Huawei’s Vice President of External Affairs, that Huawei’s operations in Iran are “the same as what we’re doing in any market,” is an obtuse and indifferent remark that misses the point entirely. Responsible governments do not use Huawei’s technologies to illegally trample on the human rights of its own citizens.”
“While responsible telecommunications companies are leaving Iran, Huawei is more than willing to turn a blind eye with respect to how its equipment and services are being misused by the Iranian regime. Under these circumstances, Huawei must understand why groups such as United Against Nuclear Iran will join others in shining a light on Huawei’s callous and highly irresponsible business practices by educating U.S. policy-makers and the American public alike.”
“In the event that Huawei intends to end its business activities in Iran, as it has done with many others, UANI will be happy to help publicize and welcome such an announcement. If not, UANI will push Huawei to be held accountable under U.S. sanctions law.”
Huawei has 1,000 employees in Iran and offices in six Iranian cities. It also partners with Iranian firms which work directly with Iran’s military and intelligence services, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps elite special-forces unit.
