Terex has dismissed claims made by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) that it was conducting business in Iran via its foreign subsidaries and has labelled its accusations as inaccurate.
It has also asked for the NGO to “rescind its related press release and open letter posted on its website”.
UANI recently launched its “Cranes Campaign” to highlight the use of construction cranes in public executions in Iran. While Terex was singled out by the organisation in an open letter to the company’s CEO Ronald DeFeo, UANI also calls for Tadano, UNIC, Liebherr, Cargotec, Manitowoc, Konecranes, XCMG, Kobelco, Zoomlion, Gottwald to “account for their business in Iran and the likelihood that their cranes are being used for public executions” on its Cranes Campaign website.
In the open letter to Terex Chairman and CEO DeFeo, UANI’s president Mark Wallace wrote: “As part of its newly launched “Cranes Campaign,” UANI is urging all crane manufacturers, including Terex, to end their business operations in Iran until the current regime in Tehran ends this grisly practice and stops threatening the world through the pursuit of an illegal nuclear weapons program.”
“Iran has set a blistering pace of executions in the first months of 2011, with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran proclaiming that the regime is on an “execution binge.” According to Freedom House, Iran has executed at least 132 people since the New Year, setting the regime on pace to far exceed the 179 reportedly executed in 2010. The disturbing reality is that the Iranian regime’s preferred method of execution is hanging from a construction crane, leaving the bodies on public display.
“UANI is calling upon all crane suppliers, including Terex, to end their business dealings in Iran.”
In response to the claims, Terex said in a statement: “Terex believes that a company’s conduct and its reputation are among its most valuable assets, and we strive to be good national and global citizens. As a global company, Terex also respects the human rights of all individuals around the world. In this regard, Terex Corporation shares many of the concerns of UANI relating to the Iranian regime.
“While Terex Corporation has always complied with US laws, for some time now Terex has had an internal policy prohibiting all new business transactions in Iran for its all of its subsidiaries, even if the transaction would otherwise be permissible under US law or the laws of other countries.
“We regret that the UANI organization did not check its facts with Terex before targeting Terex in its New Cranes Campaign. We call on UANI to immediately remove Terex from its New Cranes Campaign, rescind its related press release and open letter posted on its website, and correct its inaccurate statements as to Terex.”
