The MTN Group has confirmed it is cooperating with a US Department of Justice (DoJ) grand jury investigation into its historical operations in Iran and Afghanistan, but said it has not been charged with any violations of the law.
The Johannesburg-based telecoms giant said in a statement that the inquiry relates to MTN, its former subsidiary in Afghanistan, and its minority investment in Irancell, in which it has held a stake since 2006. The company stressed that Irancell is not under its operational control, and under current sanctions, it has neither deployed capital into the business nor extracted dividends.
“MTN has a robust ethics and compliance programme that is designed to ensure compliance with law, including international trade and sanctions regulations,” the company said, adding that it is voluntarily providing information to the DoJ through its external US counsel.
The investigation follows lawsuits filed in the United States in which plaintiffs allege MTN supported militant groups in Iraq and Afghanistan. MTN rejected the claims, saying it “was not involved in those tragic events, and maintains that the plaintiffs have sued the wrong defendants in the wrong courts.”
MTN noted it exited its Afghanistan business in early 2024 and reaffirmed its commitment to “the highest standards of ethical business practice and compliance with international laws.”
While the investigation is ongoing, MTN noted that it remains focused on its core business across Africa, serving 298 million customers in 16 markets. “MTN continues to deliver strong operational and financial performance, with robust growth across our markets and a clear focus on connecting and empowering communities,” the company said.
The company added it “has deep sympathy for those who have been injured or lost loved ones as result of the tragic conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan” but said it would continue to defend the cases.
