Iran prefers dialogue in tank dispute with Britain
Iran Press TV
Tue Feb 4, 2014 3:38PM GMT
Iran Foreign Ministry spokeswoman says the Islamic Republic prefers to settle the case of the undelivered military equipment with Britain through dialogue rather than in court.
Marzieh Afkham was referring to Iran's legal action against a company affiliated with the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) for the non-delivery of military vehicles purchased more than three decades ago.
Tehran is reportedly pushing for £400 million (USD 657 million) in compensation at the UK High Court.
Afkham expressed hope that the case would be resolved without having to take it to the High Court.
She added that "politicizing" the affair will prevent its quick and fair settlement.
Afkham stated that 35 years of negotiations between Tehran and London have failed to produce any results due to "stonewalling" by the United Kingdom.
The dispute goes back to 35 years ago when the deposed Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi paid the International Military Services (IMS) £650 million (USD one billion) for 1,750 Chieftain battle tanks and repair vehicles.
Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, however, the delivery of the vehicles was stopped.
In an arbitration concluded in 2009, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) sided with Iran.
An MoD spokesman cited the financial restrictions by the European Union (EU) against Tehran as the reason for withholding payments to Iran, adding that the sum "could be released only if sanctions are lifted."
On January 20, the EU Council suspended part of its sanctions against Iran according to the Geneva nuclear deal between Tehran and the six world powers (the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany), which was signed last November.
KA/HGH/SS
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