The "Stop the Bomb" alliance, which lobbies for enforcement of international sanctions against Iran, renewed criticism Thursday of Austrian oil and gas company OMV AG (OMV.VI) for sponsoring a gas export conference in Tehran this weekend.
"The OMV seems to adhere to direct financing of economical support measures for the Iranian terror regime," coalition spokeswoman Simone Dinah Hartmann said in a statement on the group's Web site.
OMV is a so-called "silver sponsor" for the conference on Oct. 4-5, alongside mostly Iranian companies and French oil group Total SA (12027.FR).
Global oil giant Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA.LN) has withdrawn its sponsorship from the conference, Stop the Bomb noted.
The coalition has launched international petitions and campaigns condemning Iran's nuclear program, which it fears could lead to an atom bomb, and has especially targeted OMV's deals with Tehran.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
The Austrian group has been exploring oil fields in southwest Iran since 2001 and last year signed a letter of intent with Iranian companies to develop an oil field in the Persian Gulf and to produce liquefied natural gas.
"Considering the permanently repeated threats against Israel and considering the terror against the Iranian people, Austria's reaction should imply a consequent policy of imposing sanctions," Stop the Bomb said Thursday.