TEHRAN -- Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian said here Monday Iran has no more funds blocked in any country due to the U.S. sanctions and can now utilize its own assets.
Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks while speaking to reporters after Iran and the United States reached a deal regarding the unblocking of some $6 billion worth of Iran’s funds illegally blocked in South Korea under the pretext of U.S. sanctions.
South Korean media reported on August 21 that the Iranian funds had been transferred from South Korea to Switzerland’s central bank last week to be sent to Iran.
Pointing to the export of Iranian gas and electricity to Iraq, Amir-Abdollahian said the revenues earned from such sales would be deposited in the TBI (Trade Bank of Iraq), following which the Central Bank of Iran would use that money to buy the country’s required goods.
He said the Iranian administration, since taking office some two years ago, has carried out serious measures to release the country’s blocked assets.
“Last year, we collected 390 million pounds of Britain’s debt which were related to the period before the victory of the Islamic Revolution,” he said.
Iran used the released funds in a “legal and dignified” way for the purposes it preferred, he added, dismissing the oil-for-food claims about the assets.
Britain had delayed the payment for many years citing problems faced because of foreign sanctions against Iran. However, Tehran has insisted the debt should be settled regardless of issues that exist between Iran and the West.
The money was owed to Iran over an upfront payment made by the former Shah of Iran to Britain to buy 1,750 Chieftain tanks and other military vehicles.
Elsewhere in the presser, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran’s membership in the BRICS group of emerging economies can enhance international economic power and cooperation in a system based on multilateralism.
The top diplomat said the five main members of the BRICS have confirmed that from among the 40 countries applying to join the bloc, Iran has the necessary capabilities and qualifications to become a new member.
He added that Iran’s admission to BRICS was accepted despite the existence of sanctions against the country.
The Iranian foreign minister hailed the “very important” role of the BRICS leaders in Iran’s joining the group and said President Ebrahim Raisi had consulted with all the leaders of the bloc, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, in this regard.
He emphasized that the Iranian diplomatic apparatus also used its utmost capacities, noting that an active diplomacy finally led to the country’s official membership.