Nokia Siemens defends Iran deal

Nokia Siemens Networks defended its decision to sell eavesdropping technology to Iran last year, saying Tuesday it had followed trade rules and acted ethically.

Spokeswoman Riitta Mard said the Finnish-German company was surprised over the uproar following allegations that the Iranian government had used the Nokia Siemens Networks technology to monitor mobile phone calls, and possibly e-mails, during the postelection protests.

In recent days criticism of Nokia Siemens has spread over the Internet and in the media, with some claiming the company's technology helped the hardline Iranian government violate civil liberties and jail protesters as part of the crackdown.

Last year Nokia Siemens Networks sold equipment to TCI, Iran's national telecommunications company, that is capable of monitoring local calls.

"But that's all there is to it," Mard said. "The system (sold to TCI) doesn't allow monitoring international calls, and it absolutely doesn't allow monitoring Internet and data communication, not even SMS or picture messages."

In most countries, including all European Union members and the United States, mobile networks are required by law to provide capability for monitoring local calls, Mard explained.

Nokia Siemens Networks is a 50-50 joint venture of Nokia Corp., the world's top mobile phone maker, and German Siemens AG. It employs 60,000 people worldwide.