Seoul says it paid Iran's delinquent UN dues to restore vote

Source: Associated Press

Seoul says it paid Iran’s delinquent UN dues to restore vote

By ISABEL DEBRE
January 23, 2022

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Using Iranian bank funds freed from American sanctions, South Korea has paid Iran’s $18 million in delinquent dues owed to the United Nations, Seoul said Sunday. The step was apparently approved by Washington to restore Tehran’s suspended voting rights at the world body.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Seoul had paid the sum using Iranian assets frozen in the country after consulting with the United States Treasury — a potential signal of flexibility amid floundering nuclear negotiations.

The ministry said it expected Iran’s voting rights to be restored immediately after their suspension earlier this month for delinquent dues.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Iran state television’s English-language arm Press TV quoted Iran’s permanent representative to the U.N. as confirming that the dues had been paid and Iran’s voting rights would soon be restored. He did not specify how the money had been paid.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-general-assembly-voting-rights-donald-trump-seoul-united-states-8ca83424fbf768fb0d7efd876dcd5199