admin
TEHRAN. — Iran received US$550 million as the first instalment of its frozen assets in western banks, local media quoted the government spokesman as saying yesterday.“From Monday (yesterday), we have access to part of our frozen money, “ Mohammad-Baqer Nobakht was quoted as saying by state IRIB TV.
The money had been deposited in Iran’s account a few days ago, but it was expected to be released for use yesterday, since the bank procedure couldn’t be operated on European weekends of Saturday and Sunday, Nobakht said, adding that the unfrozen money is possible to be spent on some overseas purchases.
Iran received the first instalment of US$4,2 billion in frozen assets, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday.
The unblocked money was deposited in a Swiss bank account as a part of nuclear deal between Iran and world powers clinched last year, Araqchi told semi-official ISNA news agency.
On January 20, Iran and the P5+1 group including the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, started the implementation of the interim deal they clinched in Geneva on November 24, 2013.
Under the deal, Iran suspended 20 percent uranium enrichment and started the process of diluting and oxidizing its 196-kg- stockpile of 20-percent enriched uranium in exchange for partial relief of the sanctions imposed on its energy and financial sectors. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter