Iran: $100b in assets ‘fully released’ under nuclear deal

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran says it now has access to more than $100 billion worth of frozen overseas assets following the implementation of the nuclear deal with world powers.

Government spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht says much of the money had been piling up in banks in China, India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey since international sanctions were tightened in 2012 over Tehran’s nuclear program. His comments are posted on the website of state-run Press TV on Monday.

The landmark agreement led to an end to international sanctions last month, after the UN verified that Iran had curbed its nuclear activities.

Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency meanwhile quotes Central Bank official Nasser Hakimi as saying nine Iranian banks are now reconnected to SWIFT, a Belgian-based cooperative that handles wire transfers between financial institutions.

— AP