U.S.-based United Against Nuclear Iran has applauded China's Huawei for ending its bid to seek new business in Iran.
Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, president of United Against Nuclear Iran, stated, "We applaud Huawei for taking an important first step in pulling back from its business in Iran, and we thank Huawei for its cooperation and responsiveness over the past months. For the first time, a major Chinese business has joined the worldwide movement to isolate Iran. The message to companies around the world is clear: Iran is off limits to responsible businesses."
Huawei reportedly said it would stop seeking new business in Iran and limit existing business, after discussions over the last two months with UANI.
On November 1, 2011, UANI publicly called on Huawei to end its business in Iran, noting that the company was dominating the country's mobile phone sector, and enabling the regime to track and spy on protesters and citizens. After Huawei responded by defending its business in Iran, UANI publicly denounced that defense and continued discussions with Huawei officials regarding pulling back from Iran.
United Against Nuclear Iran is a not-for-profit, non-partisan, advocacy group that seeks to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to obtain nuclear weapons. UANI was founded in 2008 by Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, the late Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Former CIA Director Jim Woolsey and Middle East expert Dennis Ross.