Jon Huntsman’s relationship with China may not be his only problem going into the GOP nomination process. Politico reports today the Huntsman family business has also had some questionable financial dealings with Iran.
Back in 2009, the nuclear watchdog group United Against a Nuclear Iran reportedly discovered Huntsman Corp., the family business that helped fund Huntsman’s early political career, was selling polyurethane from its Tehran-based subsidiary. The watchdog was concerned the polyurethane could be used to build weapons and sent the following letter to the corporation:
“How can it be that Ambassador Huntsman could persuade the Chinese government to impose further economic sanctions on Iran when his namesake former company continues to do business in Iran?” read the letter from United Against a Nuclear Iran, a nonpartisan group founded by the late diplomat Richard Holbrooke and veteran Mideast envoy Dennis Ross.
The subsidiary closed shop under pressure in 2010, though Huntsman had already divested completely from the business back in 2005. But the multi-billion dollar corporation, which is still controlled by members of the Huntsman family and is swiftly expanding its reach in Asia, may become an issue for the presidential hopeful.
Perhaps most disconcerting is Huntsman Corp.’s current view on sanctions. Huntsman’s brother Peter now runs the company, and he’s made his opposition to sanctions clear earlier this month, according to Politico.
“I don’t think that [trade] sanctions are a good diplomatic policy,” said Peter. “By not doing trade with Iran, are we hurting people that are reaching out for western business?”
In light of this, Huntsman should make his own view on Iranian sanctions clearer to the American public. And while his family business’s position on the issue is troubling, it also doesn’t necessarily tell us anything about how Huntsman would govern as president. After all, Vice President Cheney was closely aligned with USA Engage, an organization that was heavily opposed to sanctions, before the 2000 election. Of course Cheney went on to become a major Iran hawk after taking office.
