Nokia-Siemens is reported to have sold monitoring equipment to the Iranian regime. The join venture between the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia, and Germany’s Siemens sold a ‘monitor centre’ to Irantelecom, the state telecommunications provider. The technology allows Irantelecom to tap phone lines, read emails and track other electronic communications.

A spokeperson for Nokia-Siemens defended the sale by saying it was ‘lawful’. However, given the recent protests in Iran where many people have been killed and where protestors have been relying on electronic communications to organise their protests Nokia-Siemens defence may not wash with customers or investors.