UK and Iran discussed repayment of £ 400million debt to Tehran (Ambassador)
Iran’s ambassador to London also raised reports that the UK could circumvent sanctions by repaying debt in kind – including through aid – stressing that Iran “wants to[s] receive our money ”.
Mohsen Baharvand said London and Tehran close to paying debt over the summer [Getty]
British government officials visited Tehran last week to discuss legal avenues for wiping out a historic £ 400million debt owed to Iran, the Islamic Republic’s ambassador to the UK said on Friday. United.
Debt refers to money paid over four decades ago for tanks that were never delivered. Money is seen as a key sticking point for Iran in talks over the release of British citizens it has imprisoned.
“We are trying. We should not be so pessimistic. We may be working with our colleagues in the Foreign Ministry to come to this agreement. We are in the process of discussing. Last week there was a delegation from the United Kingdom. United in Iran and personally I was talking to the Foreign Ministry and I hope we will reach an agreement, “said Iranian Ambassador Mohsen Baharvand, quoted by The Guardian as told.
Baharvand added that London and Tehran were close to settling the debt over the summer, but were unable to complete negotiations due to US sanctions.
“We wanted to use this deal to ask our people that we see a good sign from the UK and then it gives us a chance to step up our efforts to help national doubles and things like that. Then we had a We signed but two days after signing this agreement the UK government said it could not implement it due to US sanctions, “he said.
The ambassador also referred to reports that the UK could circumvent sanctions by repaying debt in kind, including through aid.
“It’s not aid. Our money is here and we want our money. It’s very simple. We want to receive our money. We don’t insist on interest. Otherwise, it would be billions. Channel. is most likely to transfer this money to our accounts, ”Baharvand said.
Relatives of British citizens jailed in Iran say their relatives have been kept behind bars due to debt – something former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has also reported.
Iran has insisted that the issue of Britons imprisoned in Iran is separate from other discussions, including the Vienna nuclear talks.
Anglo-Iranian nationals Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori are currently being held in Iran on charges of espionage. Their families have campaigned relentlessly to pressure the UK government to release them and firmly deny the charges.