According to Ibena, In a meeting with Iranian parliamentarians on Tuesday, Zarif said, however, that countries like South Korea have not responded positively to Iran’s repeated requests for release of funds that have reportedly been blocked because of US pressure.
“Some countries like Oman and China have acted positively on return of these funds but South Korea has not taken any significant action in this regard,” said Zarif, according to remarks published by Iranian parliament’s news service.
The comments come as Iran is struggling to return the funds frozen by foreign banks amid a shortage of hard currency in the country which has been exacerbated by a new coronavirus pandemic.
Iranian authorities have been pressing South Korea to release between $6.5 billion and $9 billion in frozen funds so that Tehran could use them for purchase of basic goods.
Zarif said South Korean government claims it has “certain problems” in transferring the money it owes to Iran mainly because of the US sanctions.
