Trade Delegation Campaign: Austria
Many Austrian companies have expressed or otherwise indicated interest in expanding or renewing their Iran business in the wake of the signing of the JCPOA.
On December 6, 2013, an Austrian trade delegation reportedly comprised of 17 national companies began a three-day long mission to Iran. The delegation, led by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, met with Seyyed Mehdi Mir-Abutalebi, the deputy head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran. The Austrian companies AVL, Voestalpine, Plasser & Theurer, Doka, ILF, and Doppelmayr were reportedly among the those taking part in the delegation. Many of these companies have a large presence in the U.S. and lucrative contracts with the U.S. Government. One month after the delegation, Richard Schenz, vice-president of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber said, "There is no reason to adhere to U.S. laws" regarding trade with Iran.
UANI disagrees with Austrian companies who do business in Iran – not simply because it will give aid and comfort to a lawless regime that foments terrorism and unrest throughout the Middle East – but because the legal, political, financial, and reputational risks of doing business in Iran outweigh any theoretical benefit of commercial involvement in that market.
UANI Corporate Campaigns
-
Voestalpine
Launched a campaign calling on Austrian steel conglomerate Voestalpine to cease its current business and exploration of new business in Iran. Voestalpine was part of an Austrian trade mission to Tehran to explore new business opportunities following the signing of the Geneva interim nuclear agreement. Several of the company's subsidiaries also list distributors in Iran on their respective websites. At the same time, Voestalpine maintains a significant U.S. presence, and is set for an April 2014 groundbreaking of a $740 million iron ore processing plant in Corpus Christi, Texas, touted as the company's "largest foreign investment to date."
-
AVL List GmbH (AVL)
UANI launched a campaign calling on Austrian automotive firm AVL List GmbH (AVL) to forego business in Iran. AVL was part of an Austrian trade mission to Tehran to explore new business opportunities following the signing of the Geneva interim nuclear agreement. At the same time, AVL maintains a significant U.S. presence has received millions of dollars in U.S. Government contracts.
-
Palfinger
In response to UANI's Cranes Campaign, Austrian crane manufacturer Palfinger ended its business in Iran. UANI had presented Palfinger with photographic evidence of its cranes being misused for public executions in Iran. In January 2017, Palfinger reconfirmed its position to UANI.