UANI Expands Global Reach, Deepens Defense and Foreign Policy Expertise with New Advisory Board Members

NEW YORK, June 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), the nonpartisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization known for its efforts to heighten awareness of the danger the Iranian regime poses to the world, announced today that five renowned experts have joined its advisory board: former Mossad Director Tamir Pardo, British Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb, former Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, and U.S. Lieutenant General Michael D. Barbero.

The addition of Pardo, Lamb, Sikorski, Bolton, and Barbero to the advisory board represents UANI's growing international voice, and enhances the group's defense and foreign policy credentials. Led by a group of former leading diplomats and lawmakers, UANI is spearheading a global education campaign focused on the risks of doing business with Iran, warning hundreds of international companies that may be contemplating Tehran as a new investment opportunity.

"UANI is honored to have these distinguished and universally respected leaders join our advisory board," said UANI's CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace. "Having unparalleled experts and statesmen on UANI's board adds immeasurably to our wealth of knowledge and resources, and increases our reach globally."

"Iran's status as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism was just reaffirmed by the U.S. State Department, and its abysmal record on human rights is equally well documented," said UANI Chairman Senator Joseph I. Lieberman. "Defense and foreign policy experts like Director Pardo, Ambassador Bolton, Lieutenant Generals Barbero and Lamb, and Foreign Minister Sikorski are dedicated to helping us shed light on Iran's truly bad behavior and speak the truth to the international community about the grave risks of doing business with the Ayatollah."

Tamir Pardo served as the Director of Mossad, the Israeli Intelligence Agency, from January 2011 through January 2016, taking over the role from long-standing Advisory Board member Meir Dagan. Pardo served Mossad for 35 years.

"The leading global powers cannot turn a blind eye to the clear and present dangers the Iranian regime poses to the safety and freedoms of millions of people within their borders and throughout the world," said Director Pardo. "I have had the opportunity to follow UANI activities during the last years and I am proud and honored to be part of UANI advisory board."

Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb is the former Director of UK Special Forces and Commander of the British Field Army. He was Deputy Commander to General David Petraeus in Iraq and a key advisor to General Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan.

"I am honored to join UANI's board of leading global thinkers in an effort to raise awareness of the irresponsible and nefarious behavior of the Iranian regime worldwide," said Lieutenant General Lamb. "As we have seen over the last year, the JCPOA was transactional, not transformational, and I look forward to working with UANI to ensure Iran remains a high priority on the agenda of the international community."

Radosław Sikorski has had a storied career in the Polish government. From 2014-2015, he held the position of Marshal of the Sejm, speaker of the lower house of the Polish parliament. Sikorski also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland from 2007-2014 and Minister of National Defense from 2005-2007.

"It is essential that businesses and leaders around the world understand the Iranian regime's threat to the global order," said Minister Sikorski. "UANI has assembled some of the most sought-after defense and foreign policy advisers from around the world, and I am honored to join these leading experts to help keep the focus on Iran's destabilizing behavior." 

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Michael D. Barbero served as Director of the Joint Improved Explosive Device Defeat Organization from March 2011-2013. Prior to this assignment, he spent many years coordinating strategic political-military operations at the highest levels in the Middle East, including as Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Operations of the Multi-National Force—Iraq from 2007-2008.

"Tehran's regional meddling since the signing of the JCPOA has only increased—particularly in Iraq," said Lieutenant General (Ret.) Barbero. "UANI speaks with a singular voice on the Iranian threat, and I look forward to furthering UANI's work in holding the Iranian regime accountable for its continuing aggression."

"UANI has been a leading voice in raising awareness of the danger the Iranian regime poses to the international community, and I am committed to helping this group shine a light on the serious humanitarian and security concerns that remain present," said Ambassador John Bolton, a foreign policy expert and diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush.

UANI co-founder, veteran American diplomat, and Middle East Expert Ambassador Dennis Ross welcomed the new advisory board members, saying, "It is amazing to see such important and impressive growth of UANI's advisory board, with statesmen and top advisers from all over the world. The addition of Director Pardo, Ambassador Bolton, Lieutenant Generals Barbero and Lamb, and Foreign Minister Sikorski to our board only underscores how critical UANI's mission is, and I look forward to working with them and the rest of our board members to enhance our work on a global scale."

In addition, UANI announced that Dr. August Hanning will be working alongside fellow UANI advisory board member Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata to expand the group's network and presence in Europe. Dr. Hanning was the German State Secretary in the Federal Interior Ministry from 2005 to 2009 as well as the Director of the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) from 1998 to 2005. Giulio Terzi served as Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2013, Italian Ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2011, and Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations from 2008 to 2009.

"It is essential that European business leaders and investors understand the reputational, financial, and political ramifications that are at stake in doing business with Iran," said Dr. Hanning. "UANI is leading an extensive effort to help companies remain vigilant, and I look forward to making sure their campaign is successful in Europe."

As part of its campaign to highlight the dangers of business with the Iranian regime, UANI has identified a matrix of 10 key risk categories businesses and sovereign states face should they pursue deals with Tehran.

Click here for more information about UANI's leadership and advisory board.

Media interested in speaking with UANI's advisory board members, please contact: [email protected].

About UANI

UANI is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan, advocacy group founded in 2008 by Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, former CIA Director Jim Woolsey and Middle East Expert Ambassador Dennis Ross, that seeks to heighten awareness of the danger the Iranian regime poses to the world. 

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SOURCE United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI)

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