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South African ties to Iran coming under scrutiny | The South African
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South African ties to Iran coming under scrutiny

MTN Group accused of pressuring South African government into supporting Iran.
By Dan Swinhoe on 8 February, 2012 2:33 pm in Highlights and Special Offers, News / no comments / EDIT

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Iran, MTN Group, Nuclear Program, Sasol, south africa

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South Africa is coming under increasing pressure over its relationship with Iran. On Friday the South African government denied it had been pressured by MTN Group into supporting Tehrans nuclear program while the company was bidding for a telephone licence in Iran. South Africas foreign policy is independent and cannot be influenced by anyone, Foreign Ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said. Turkcell, which unsuccessfully bid for the Iranian license, has issued a lawsuit over the result. It will accuse MTN of bribing an Iranian and a South African government official, and encouraging Pretoria to support Irans nuclear power development programme. MTN is the latest company to come under fire for its involvement in Iran. Petrochemical group Sasol recently said it may sell its operations there. Iranian oil supplies almost 12,000 barrels a day to South Africa, which makes up around a third of the countrys supply. The company said it was diversifying to mitigate risk associated with disruptions in the Middle East. Monyela said this week that South Africa has told Iran it is ready to help any country that wants to follow its lead and give up nuclear weapons. South Africa is the only nation to have voluntarily given up its nuclear weapons program, after disarming in the early 90s. It still retains uranium reserves for nuclear power, and says all nations should have the right to Shipping to South Africa & Australia Trust Anglo Pacific for your removals. Top reputation, friendly & professional. International removals to South Africa Weekly shipping to South Africa. Get great rates and great packing, now. Discover Your Global Passport Options! Research thousands of worldwide visa, passport and migration solutions using unique search technology. Open your account in OZ, before you go Open your account and send your funds at great rates with Australias best bank.

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exploit atomic energys peaceful potential. Thomas Wheeler, a retired South African diplomat who now works for the independent South African Institute of International Affairs, said Irans problems would go away if, as South Africa did, it allowed the international agency full access. Instead, Iranians create the suspicion that theyre up to something. South African-Iranian ties are close, but complicated. Iran supported the ANC when it was an anti-apartheid movement, but also supplied oil to the white minority government both before and after the shahs fall. Last month, South African foreign affairs minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told reporters the international community needed to campaign for the peaceful use of nuclear power and ensure weapons inspectors were able to do their jobs, not just to target Iran as a country.
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