WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-New Jersey), Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska) and nine of their Senate colleagues have called on the German government to stop the Hamburg-based bank, Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank (EIH), from providing financial support for Iran’s nuclear program. The Senators wrote to the German Foreign Minister expressing their concern that EIH continues to conduct transactions on behalf of entities under U.S. and EU sanctions. EIH was sanctioned by the United States in September for its facilitation of Iran’s proliferation activities.
“EIH is one of Iran’s few remaining access points to the European financial system,” the Senators wrote. “The threat of a nuclear-armed Iran is undeniable and we must make sanctions as strong as possible to deny Iran the economic means to develop those weapons. Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank must halt these practices or be closed immediately.”
The letter from Lautenberg and Johanns to the German Foreign Minister was cosigned by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts), Al Franken (D-Minnesota), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Mark Kirk (R-Illinois), Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) and Jerry Moran (R-Kansas).
The following is the text of their letter:
February 1, 2011
His Excellency Dr. Guido Westerwelle
Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany
Werderscher Markt 1
10117 Berlin
Dear Minister Westerwelle:
We write to express our grave concern with the continued financial support of Iran’s nuclear proliferation activity by Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank (EIH) in Hamburg and urge the German government take immediate action to end these practices.
In September, the United States sanctioned EIH, citing its role as a key financial lifeline for Iran and its facilitation of Iran’s proliferation activities. EIH is one of Iran’s few remaining access points to the European financial system. The bank has and continues to conduct transactions on behalf of entities under U.S. and EU sanctions, including Bank Mellat, a designated supporter of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). The AEOI reports directly to the Iranian president and is the main Iranian organization for research and development of nuclear technology.
We know Germany shares international concerns about the Iranian regime, including its nuclear program, support for terrorism, and human rights abuses. The sanctions passed by the EU this summer sent a strong message to Iran that we will not allow its illicit behavior and violations of Security Council resolutions to go unanswered. Yet, the continued operation of EIH allows the Iranian regime to skirt the sanctions and undercut their effectiveness.
Under U.S. law any financial institution that continues to conduct business with EIH may itself be barred from accessing the U.S. financial system. Companies that continue to conduct trade with Iran via EIH also face potential sanctions in the U.S., including restrictions on exports to the U.S. and access to U.S. capital markets.
The threat of a nuclear-armed Iran is undeniable and we must make sanctions as strong as possible to deny Iran the economic means to develop those weapons. Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank must halt these practices or be closed immediately. We look forward to your prompt attention to this issue and to working with you to combat illicit financial activity and promote a safe and transparent global financial system.
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Preceding provided by Sen. Frank Lautenberg