Dubai: Using Bank Iranian funds released from American sanctions, South Korea has paid Iran of $ 18 million in naughty fees owed to the United Nations, Seoul said Sunday.
The move seemed to be approved by Washington to restore Tehran’s voting rights suspended in the world.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Seoul had paid such a number of frozen Iranian assets in this country after consulting with the United States treasury – a potential signal of flexibility in the midst of nuclear negotiations.
The ministry said it expects Iran’s election rights to be restored immediately after their suspension earlier this month for naughty contributions.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations does not immediately respond to a comment request.
But the TV Press English-language Iranian State Television quoted Iran’s permanent representatives to the United Nations as confirming that the contribution was paid and Iran’s voting rights would be restored soon.
He did not determine how the money was paid.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, as an active member of the United Nations, is always committed to paying its membership contribution on time,” said Majid Takht-e Ravanchi.
He revealed anger in the US for what he called “brutal and unilateral sanctions on Iran” which had prevented Tehran from getting access to funds to pay arrears over the past two years.
The funds have been confiscated at the Korean banks subject to sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump after he withdrew from the Nuclear Tehran landmark with the world’s power.
The Asset Asset Office of the US Department of Finance must provide a license for these transactions under American banking sanctions imposed on Iran.
The treasury did not immediately respond to the request to comment on non-frozen funds.
The Biden government wants to return the 2015 nuclear agreement, which gives Iran sanctions with an exchange for the sidewalk on its nuclear program.
Diplomats are now involved in complicated negotiations to revive the agreement in Vienna, although a breakthrough remains difficult to abandoned by Iran leaving every limit imposed by its agreement on its nuclear enrichment.
The country now enriches a small amount to the purity of 60% – short and technical steps of the class of weapons – and rotates centrifuges is far more advanced than permitted.
Under the United Nations Charter, a nation that owes twice two years full of voting in the General Assembly.
A letter from Secretary General Antonio Guterres circulated earlier this month revealed that Iran was among several naughty countries in the list, which also included Venezuela and Sudan.
The General Assembly can make exceptions to the rules, determine that some countries face the state “beyond membership of members.” According to the Secretary General, Iran needs to pay a minimum of $ 18.4 million to restore his voting rights.
Iran also lost voting rights in January last year, encouraged Tehran to attack the US because it imposes the destruction sanctions that freeze billions of dollars in Iranian funds throughout the world.
Tehran regained the voting rights last June after making a minimum payment in his contribution.
Iran for the past few years has pressured Seoul to release around $ 7 billion in revenue from oil sales which remain frozen in South Korea since Trump’s administration tightened sanctions on Iran.
Frozen funds depend on balance because diplomats struggle to revive the nuclear agreement.
South Korean senior diplomats including Choi Jong Kun, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, flew to Vienna this month to discuss the fate of their assets with their Iranian colleagues.