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发帖数: 37081 | 1 Washington (AFP) - The United States is to repay Iran a $400 million debt
and $1.3 billion in interest dating to the Islamic revolution, Secretary of
State John Kerry said Sunday.
The repayment, which settles a suit brought under an international legal
tribunal, is separate from the tens of billions of dollars in frozen foreign
accounts that Iran can now access after the end of nuclear sanctions.
But the timing of the announcement, one day after the implementation of the
Iran nuclear accord, will be seen as pointing to a broader clearing of the
decks between the old foes.
US President Barack Obama defended the settlement in a televised statement
from the White House, saying it was for "much less than the amount Iran
sought."
"For the United States, the settlement could save us billions of dollars
that could have been pursued by Iran. There was no benefit to the United
States in dragging this out," he said.
Kerry said the claim was in the amount of a $400 million trust fund used by
Iran to purchase military equipment from the United States prior to the
break in diplomatic ties, plus $1.3 billion in interests.
Iranian-US ties broke down in 1979 after revolutionaries -- angered at US
support for the Iran's deposed monarch -- stormed the American embassy and
took hostages.
In 1981, the Iran-US Claims tribunal was established in The Hague to settle
outstanding debts between the two countries, and Tehran filed a suit
demanding the arms payment be returned.
Kerry described Sunday's payment of the 35-year-old trust as a "fair
settlement," but it is sure to draw the ire of those in Washington who think
he had already made too many concessions to secure the nuclear deal.
"Iran will receive the balance of $400 million in the Trust Fund, as well as
a roughly $1.3 billion compromise on the interest," he said, in a statement.
"Iran's recovery was fixed at a reasonable rate of interest and therefore
Iran is unable to pursue a bigger tribunal award against us, preventing US
taxpayers from being obligated to a larger amount of money."
Kerry went on to say all of the US claims against Iran at the tribunal had
long been settled and had netted American companies and individuals $2.5
billion.
But he added there are more Iranian claims pending and that the United
States would try to negotiate to resolve them.
http://news.yahoo.com/us-pay-iran-1-7-bn-debt-interest-16094207 | c****g
发帖数: 37081 | 2 US President Barack Obama defended the settlement in a televised statement
from the White House, saying it was for "much less than the amount Iran
sought."
"For the United States, the settlement could save us billions of dollars
that could have been pursued by Iran. There was no benefit to the United
States in dragging this out," he said.
擦，08说不是小赔是大赚。 | c***l
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