# A US Department of Justice grand jury is investigating MTN over its past operations in Iran and Afghanistan. According to News24, the probe follows US civil lawsuits accusing the company of paying protection money to the Taliban and al-Qaeda, allegations MTN denies. The mobile operator’s CEO, Ralph Mupita, says the group has not been accused of wrongdoing but is cooperating fully and must defend itself against legacy claims, including a Turkcell lawsuit over Iran’s first private cellphone licence.
US turns up the heat on MTN over Iran and Afghanistan dealings