June 21, 2010, Morris Plains NJ – “Honeywell – Out of Iran Now!” was the theme of a protest held today in front of Honeywell International in Morris Plains. Organized by the No Nukes for Iran, a teen advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness of the threat of a nuclear Iran, and United Against Nuclear Iran, more than 60 community members and teens participated.

Honeywell International is the focus of NJ Stop Iran Now protests for its continued business dealings with Iran which are helping Iran’s energy industry. Honeywell International, Inc. has been urged to stop selling security technology to Iran and they have refused. In mid-June, No Nukes for sent a letter to Honeywell CEO requesting a meeting but no reply has been forthcoming.

“Honeywell get out of Iran so that you can tell your children and grandchildren – that you helped to make the world a safer place for us and for future generations,” said Danielle Flaum, No Nukes for Iran, who spoke to the crowd holding signs. Danielle, a 17 year old Millburn High School Student, was the organizer and moderator of the event.

Honeywell participates in projects to develop Iran's energy industry. A Honeywell subsidiary, Universal Oil Products (UOP), is currently engaged in expanding and upgrading the Arak Refinery in Iran. Honeywell's decision to continue making key contributions to the development of Iran's oil industry is dangerous. There is overwhelming bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress to economically isolate Iran's oil and natural gas industry. Honeywell's decision is especially egregious considering that Honeywell does more business with the U.S. Government than any other company currently active in Iran. UANI previously called on the Pentagon to debar Honeywell from U.S. Government contracts.

This is the first rally directed against an American company doing business in Iran. NJ Stop Iran Now advocates are aiming for New Jersey to be an Iranian Investment Free Zone.

“Private citizens can play a role in concentrating coercive economic pressure on the Iranian regime in order compliment action from governments and multilateral institutions. We can do this by pressuring multinational corporations like Honeywell that do business in Iran by exploiting loopholes and gaps in U.S. law. The combined effects of lower oil prices and existing sanctions are having an adverse effect on Iran,” said David Ibsen, from United Against Nuclear Iran.

“Now more than ever Iran relies on those international corporations that do business in Iran to prop up its fragile economy. These corporations help prop up an Iranian economy and facilitate the regime’s diversion of funds to its nuclear program by: paying foreign income taxes into the Iranian treasury, providing much needed Foreign Direct Investment to the faltering Iranian economy – including to Iran’s all important energy sector, and providing conduits for technology and equipment that Iran uses to develop its energy industry and in some case for its nuclear industry.”

Iran continues to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations in their attempts to monitor its nuclear activities. A number of Arab states have warned that Iran's development of nuclear weapons poses a threat to Middle East stability and could provoke a regional nuclear arms race. In short, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran is a danger to world peace. The U.S. intelligence believes that Iran will have the ability to make a nuclear weapon in a year’s time.

“We have been working around the clock to support the passage and implementation of strong U.S. and the U.N. sanctions against Iran and call on companies to stop doing business with Iran and for divestment from those that refuse. We are calling on all NJ government entities and municipalities to divest from companies doing business with Iran. We are urging all States around the country to undertake these same policies,”said Jim Daniels, who spoke on behalf of the NJ Stop Iran Now Campaign.

“Honeywell has received $12.9 billion in federal contracts from the year 2000 to March of this year; it is immoral, if not yet totally illegal, for this company to continue its operations in Iran. While Honeywell management’s duty to its stock holders is understandable, it must clearly understand its higher responsibility as a corporate citizen…to not endanger the lives of the U.S. citizens and its allies. We ask Honeywell to cease and desist such collaborations with Ahmadinejad’s regime. We need to win this economic war on terror in hopes of avoiding more devastating options and/or living in a world with a nuclearized Middle East,” Daniels added.

Additional speakers included Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi, Planet Iran; Rabbi Eric Lankin; Jaime Fusco, Eagles’ Wings; and teen advocate Michelle Bauer.

The rally was sponsored by No Nukes for Iran and United Against Nuclear Iran in partnership with a coalition of community organizations including Community Relations Committee of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest, American Jewish Committee, Eagles’ Wings, and Stand with Us, who support the teen effort on this critical issue for our country.

United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ raises funds through its United Jewish Appeal campaign, provides resources and coordinates programs and services for the Jewish community in Essex, Morris, and Sussex counties, as well as part of Union county. As the key Jewish philanthropic organization, the federation and its 18 local beneficiary agencies strive to fulfill the communal and social service needs of the MetroWest community. It also works to maintain the integrity and dignity of Jewish life through its national and international fundraising efforts.