Russian bank shuts down Iranian embassy accounts

[toomuchtime_]

(Reuters) - A state-controlled Russian bank is closing down the accounts of Iranian embassy staff in Moscow in a step criticised by Ambassador Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi as surrendering to U.S.-led financial sanctions against Tehran.

Sajjadi said on Friday that the shutdown had been ordered at short notice by VTB24, the retail banking arm of Russia's second-largest bank VTB, and that his own credit card had been blocked.

The closure of the embassy staff's personal accounts, confirmed by VTB24, comes as Washington steps up efforts to block Iran's ability to conduct financial transactions and force it to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme.

In a blog post headlined "VTB24 surrenders to the mercy of the USA" Sajjadi wrote that the bank had told embassy staff on Thursday to close their accounts by the end of the working day on Friday, or risk losing their deposits.

A spokesman for VTB24, one of the largest retail banks in Russia, said it had informed the embassy in good time of its decision, which was made for business reasons.

Russian bank shuts down Iranian embassy accounts | Reuters

 

[Hugidwyn]

The Russian News & Information Agency
MOSCOW, March 2 -. The bank "VTB 24" refuted the statement of the Iranian ambassador on blocking the accounts of the embassy of the country and the confiscation of assets.

Asked by reporters whether the work of employees of the Iranian Embassy maps, the head of the bank "VTB 24" said: "Yes, of course. Neither of which is locked, the more seizures, can be no question."

 

[toomuchtime_]

The Russian News & Information Agency
MOSCOW, March 2 -. The bank "VTB 24" refuted the statement of the Iranian ambassador on blocking the accounts of the embassy of the country and the confiscation of assets.

Asked by reporters whether the work of employees of the Iranian Embassy maps, the head of the bank "VTB 24" said: "Yes, of course. Neither of which is locked, the more seizures, can be no question."

Google does not turn up your quote - perhaps it was not accurately translated - but from the site in your link which provides English translation,

VTB 24, the retail banking arm of Russia's second largest lender VTB, blocked accounts of the Iranian embassy staff in Moscow after an order from the bank's top managers, Iran's Ambassador to Russia Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi said early on Friday.

"An embassy official in charge of banks went to the VTB 24 office at 15:00 (on Thursday). He was told the embassy staff must clean out their accounts by 18:00 on the same day otherwise the accounts would be blocked and money confiscated!"," the ambassador wrote in LiveJournal blog.

The embassy official said that it was impossible but he was told that there was an order from the bank's top managers and they could do nothing about it, Sajjadi also wrote.

The VTB 24 press service official told Prime news agency that the bank's wage project with the Iranian embassy was unprofitable and the bank decided to close it.

"We have been in talks with the Iranian embassy for a long time and the embassy was notified in advance, more than a week ago anyway," the official said.

VTB 24 Blocks Accounts of Iranian Embassy in Russia | Business | RIA Novosti

 

[Hugidwyn]

RUSSIA News Agency ITAR-TASS

VTB 24 denies reports on blocking Iran embassy staff accounts

MOSCOW, March 2 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s second largest retail bank VTB 24 has denied the reports that it had blocked accounts of Iran’s embassy staff.

“The information does not correspond to reality,” the bank’s official told Itar-Tass on Friday.

Earlier Iranian ambassador to Russia Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi wrote in his blog that VTB 24 planned to block accounts of the Iranian embassy staff in Moscow and confiscate them.

“The talk was about the bank’s wage project with the Iranian embassy,” the bank’s official said adding that around 30 embassy officials were informed in advance that the bank decided to wind up cooperation “within the framework of planned procedures and stop servicing the embassy’s staff.”

 

[toomuchtime_]

RUSSIA News Agency ITAR-TASS

VTB 24 denies reports on blocking Iran embassy staff accounts

MOSCOW, March 2 (Itar-Tass) — Russia’s second largest retail bank VTB 24 has denied the reports that it had blocked accounts of Iran’s embassy staff.

“The information does not correspond to reality,” the bank’s official told Itar-Tass on Friday.

Earlier Iranian ambassador to Russia Seyed Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi wrote in his blog that VTB 24 planned to block accounts of the Iranian embassy staff in Moscow and confiscate them.

“The talk was about the bank’s wage project with the Iranian embassy,” the bank’s official said adding that around 30 embassy officials were informed in advance that the bank decided to wind up cooperation “within the framework of planned procedures and stop servicing the embassy’s staff.”

According to this article, the bank says it is ending cooperation with the embassy staff and the Iranian ambassador says the bank is closing the accounts of the embassy staff. Is there a difference?

 

[Hugidwyn]

Reza Sajjadi - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Russia.
Note: link in Russian.
Translated from Russian into English.

My previous post regarding the recent behavior of VTB24 caused an unexpected endorsement of the West and fell into the headlines in some countries. Media tried to imagine what had happened in such a way that Russia also joined the Western sanctions that go beyond resolutions. In this regard, I consider it necessary to emphasize several points that argue that the joy of the western countries is unfounded, and fleeting.

A. On Friday, one of the directors of the bank called the embassy and expressed regret for what had happened, explaining that there was an error at the bank branch. It was agreed that on Monday at a meeting of representatives of the Embassy and the Bank of the matter is settled.

Two. Even if the error did not occurred at the branch level and above, VTB24 - not the only bank in Russia. After the incident, dozens of banks have contacted the Embassy and the Embassy have expressed willingness to provide their banking services.

Three. The Russian government and Russian leaders are fully aware of the danger of unilateral and illegal U.S. action and, therefore, strongly declared that do not support sanctions that go beyond the UN resolutions taken against Iran. Catastrophic events in Libya have clearly demonstrated that a sign of weakness to the United States could have far-reaching consequences. So now we see that the Russian government, the question regarding problems with the bank, located on the side of Iran. And of course, despite the injection of air in the Western media, Russia's principled position will not change.

In conclusion, I would like to thank all my dear friends who have supported Iran for its warm comments in my previous post.