* Pretoria says was not influenced by phone firm on Iran
* Turkcell confirms case under way against MTN
* MTN shares tumble, hit by downgrade
(Recasts, adds analyst comment)
By David Dolan
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 3 (Reuters) – South Africa denied on
Friday it had been pressured by MTN Group into backing
Tehran’s nuclear programme and aiding its military when the
Johannesburg-based mobile operator was bidding for a telephone
licence in Iran.
“South Africa’s foreign policy is independent and it cannot
be influenced by anyone,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Clayson
Monyela said.
MTN is the latest South African company to come under
scrutiny for its dealings in Iran. Petrochemical group Sasol
said in November it may sell its operations there.
The spotlight on South Africa’s relations with Iran is
uncomfortable for the ruling African National Congress (ANC)
government of President Jacob Zuma.
While Pretoria has been reluctant to join the West in
imposing sanctions, it has stopped short of open support for
Iran, which supplies a quarter of its crude.
Continued…
