Economics
Iran Pushes South Korea to Release Billions Withheld by Banks
- Tehran says funds being held back under U.S. pressure
- Governor says Iran could resort to unspecified legal action
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Iran is escalating its pressure on South Korea to release billions of dollars of oil-export revenue, arguing that Seoul is buckling to pressure from its U.S. ally and illegally withholding funds needed to counter the Middle East’s worst coronavirus outbreak.
Abdolnaser Hemmati, the head of the Central Bank of Iran, said the actions of banks in South Korea were preventing Iran from using the money to buy foods and medicines, trade that’s exempt from U.S. sanctions.