JUNEAU, Alaska—
Gov. Sean Parnell has asked three Alaska financial agencies to order the sale of stock holdings in companies that either do business in Iran or with the Iranian government, but the firms say they have not done so.The Alaska Permanent Fund Corp., state Department of Revenue and Alaska Retirement Management Board say they must follow their mandates for managing state funds, even if it means not carrying out the governor's wishes.
In January, Parnell asked directors of the three groups to divest from companies that do business with Iran.
Permanent Fund Corp. CEO Mike Burns stressed the part of Parnell's letter that called for implementation of the policy "to the extent permitted by law."
A spokesperson for the governor says Parnell still wants to move forward on the divestment issue.
