Iran withdraws assets
2010-08-28 14:25
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Tehran - Iran has withdrawn assets from European banks in a bid to counter new financial sanctions, Press TV reported on its website on Saturday.
Press TV quoted the head of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) as saying that the decision was a precautionary move against a potential European decision to freeze Iranian assets.
Mahmoud Bahmani said that CBI had predicted probable sanctions six months ago and hence planned the "necessary countermeasures".
Bahmani did not disclose the amount of the withdrawn assets and where they would be transferred.
Fresh sanctions were imposed earlier this year on Iran by the UN Security Council, the US and the EU following Tehran's refusal to suspend its controversial uranium enrichment programme.
The sanctions were mainly focused on the Islamic republic's banking, oil and shipping sectors.
In late June, the CBI head announced that Iran had increased its foreign currency reserves by $9bn through selling gold and foreign exchange conversion.
- SAPA