Anti-Iran Pressure Group Takes Hyundai Off Axis Of Evil Black List, Keeps GM And Chrysler On

Car companies severing ties with Iran are making headlines. After GM’s new partner PSA decided to stop sending parts to Iran, Hyundai “has quietly ended its business dealings with Iran, where it had extensive operations,” says the New York Times. The Times chalks this up as a win for “United Against Nuclear Iran, an American group that has advocated economic sanctions.” UANI keeps a list of companies that still do business with Iran, it also lists companies that have withdrawn from doing so. Hyundai has received a check mark in the “withdrawn” list.

Detroit is looking nervously at that list. Let’s have a look as well.

The UANI list is a veritable who’s who of the auto business. Just about anybody who is somebody is listed as having ties to the unshaven part of the axis of evil. Interestingly and coincidentally, the two American car companies that were saved by the U.S. Government are listed as still dealing with the enemy: Chrysler and General Motors. The company that was not bailed out, Ford, is not on the list of Iran-collaborateurs.

TTAC simply reprints the list as compiled by the UANI. Their list, not ours. We make no representations as to its correctness. PSA, which says it has withdrawn from doing business with Teheran, is still listed as consorting with the enemy (as “Citroen,” and again as “Peugeot”). So is Toyota, which had announced its pull-out from Iran two years ago.

It should be noted that doing business with entities in Iran is not illegal per se. There is a European embargo against Iranian oil. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Iranian imports, and on some export to Iran. Companies wanting to do business with Iran need a license from the Department of Treasury. Doing business with Iran has become increasingly complicated after Iranian banks were disconnected from international payment systems.

Because it is not illegal to do business with Iran, the UANI pressure group wants to make companies decide between business with Iran and business with the U.S. government. United Against Nuclear Iran is proposing legislation that denies U.S. government contracts to “automotive entities” that do not sever ties with Iran.

If passed, this law could become costly for General Motors. On the UANI website, GM is listed as having nearly $2.9 billion worth of U.S. government business.

Yesterday, the UANI started leaning on Nissan, supplier on NYC’s “Taxi of Tomorrow.” When will the true recipients of government largesse, Chrysler and GM, be in the crosshairs of the anti-Iranian nuke campaigners?