Iraqi FM, US official discuss Iran frozen assets
Iraq has urged the United States to promptly and fairly resolve the issue of Iran’s frozen assets, Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
During a meeting with the US’ Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass in Washington, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein emphasized the need for a quick and fair solution to Iran’s frozen assets, Mehr news agency quoted the statement as saying. US sanctions have prevented Iran from accessing a huge amount of its assets in foreign banks.
Iran’s frozen assets in Iraq amount to billions of dollars.
The source made the statement at the time after media reports said Iran and the US had reached a prisoner swap deal that also included the release of Iranian funds held in South Korea.
Iraq has also released $2.7 billion worth of Iranian funds in gas export money that the Baghdad government owes Tehran, an Iranian official announced last June.
Chairman of the Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce Yahya Al-e Es’haq said at the time that a part of Iran’s frozen assets in Iraq has been earmarked for the provision of funds needed by Iranian Hajj pilgrims.
Another portion has been used to pay for the provision of basic commodities, the senior Iranian trade official said at the time.