Iran doing its best to solve banking problems in Malaysia: Spokesman

The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry says the country’s embassy in Malaysia is doing its best to solve problems resulting from banking restrictions considered for Iranian nationals by some financial institutions in Malaysia.

Abbas Mousavi made the remarks on Thursday in reaction to reports denoting that banks in Malaysia are closing the accounts of Iranian individuals and companies, in what is believed to be a measure linked to sanctions imposed by Washington against Tehran after the former left the landmark Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Since quitting the JCPOA, US President Donald Trump has been running what he refers to as a "maximum pressure" campaign, which seeks to pressure Iran into negotiating a new deal that addresses its ballistic missile program and regional influence.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Mousavi said, “Unfortunately, under the influence of the United States’ economic terrorism, some Malaysian banks have considered restrictions for opening accounts and providing services to Iranian nationals.”

“Our country’s embassy in Malaysia is in talks with Malaysian state institutions and banking officials … and various rounds of talks have been held with relevant Malaysian officials with the main topic on the agenda of those talks being to find a solution to this problem,” Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman added.

Mousavi also expressed hope that the “friendly country of Malaysia” will adopt measures based on goodwill as well as its clear stance against unilateral sanctions to find solutions to this problem.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Wednesday that his country was pressured into closing bank accounts of Iranian individuals and companies, but maintained that ties with Tehran were good.

“We are forced to close the bank accounts by certain quarters. If we don’t, they will close our banks abroad,” he said, adding that one could guess who these quarters were.

He said it did not mean Malaysia was “helping” stifle the movement of Iranians here, reiterating that the country was forced to take the action.

SS