AV Specialist has suspended publishing activities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. “The unique trading conditions within the Republic meant that we were constantly compromising our standards on production, distribution and financial issues,” explains AV Specialist publisher Kevan Jones. “And as the US intensifies pressure on the United Nations to implement additional sanctions against Iran, many of the vendors active in the region are keeping a low profile. Advertising isn’t high on their list of priorities.”

The company is currently engaged in talks with Iranian publishers interested in exploring a joint venture or licensing deal. “After two years of activity we’d like to maintain a limited presence in Iran,” says Jones, “but we’re not prepared to be involved in publishing magazines that don’t meet the standard we’ve set elsewhere in the world. We either do the job right or we don’t do it at all.”