UK must take practical steps to pay its debt to Iran: defense minister

Tehran (IP) - Iran's defense minister stressed that Britain must take practical steps to pay its debt to Iran.

Iran PressIran News: In response to recent comments by his British counterpart Ben Wallace who has stressed the necessity to pay a debt to the Iranian government, Brigadier-General Amir Hatami said: "There has always been a distance between the stands taken by British officials and their practical resolve."

The UK debt to Iran arose from the non-delivery of 1,500 Chieftain tanks and 250 other armored vehicles ordered by the then Shah of Iran before his overthrow in 1979. 

Given the court rulings and contractual obligations, Hatami stressed: "The restrictions arising from arbitrary sanctions are not the main reason for the non-payment of the UK debt to Iran."

He added: "The Iranian nation wants the British government to settle the issue through mechanisms previously discussed by both sides."

The British defense minister told the Times radio on Monday that the UK must pay its debts to the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

 

224/221

Read More:

Iran urges UK to take practical steps to repay 40-year debt

UK should pay back its debt to Iran: Zarif

Court of appeal in London to rule on the size of UK debt to Iran