European-Iranian Commercial Bank (Eihbank) may come under European Union sanctions soon, a German daily reports. The Süddeutsche Zeitung daily reports that Germany has stopped its objections to imposing sanctions against the Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank.
According to the reports German economy, treasury and foreign ministries have finally come to agreement over boycotting this bank.
A spokesman for the German foreign ministry refrained from confirming the news but stated that reliable evidence will elicit immediate reaction from the German government.
The European-Iranian Commercial Bank is accused of assisting Iranian officials to circumvent financial sanctions against Iran.
German foreign ministry has announced earlier that it will investigate the charges and include the bank in its list of institutions under sanctions if the allegations prove to be true.
In addition to Germany, Britain has also called for the investigation of Eihbank’s activities.The US, Britain and Israel have intensified pressures on Germany for the closure of this bank in recent weeks.
The European-Iranian Commercial Bank has denied the allegations brought against it.
The headquarters of the Eihbank is located in Hamburg and was founded by a group of German merchants in 1971. It is a European bank that functions under European laws and supervision.
The Euopean-Iranian Commercial Bank was the first foreign bank that began work in Iran’s Kish Island in 2005 and now also has a branch in Tehran. Iran Industry and Mines Bank as well as Mellat and Tejarat Banks are its chief shareholders. Tehran branch of European-Iranian Commercial Bank focuses on import and export investments both by the private and public sectors and facilitates foreign trade in Iran.
