The International Monetary Fund has rejected a proposal by the U.S. lobby United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) to cut ties between the IMF and Iran’s Central Bank.
UANI, which is comprised of American ex-diplomats and headed by former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Mark Wallace, called on the IMF to annul Iran’s membership in the world financial organization.
“The IMF must also stop treating the Iranian regime like a responsible government in good standing at a time when the international community is trying to isolate it,” said the UANI statement issued this week. It claims that the sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the EU on Iran in response to its nuclear activities are being undercut by the IMF’s actions.
AFP reports that IMF spokesman William Murray responded to the UANI call, saying: “According to our constitution… the IMF’s holdings of each member’s currency are maintained with the central bank of the relevant member, including Iran.”
He added: “There is nothing in the EU or U.S. sanctions regimes that is inconsistent with these arrangements.”
Murray added that suspension of Iran’s membership in the 188-member International Monetary Fund has to be taken up with the fund’s member countries.
United Against Nuclear Iran has been organized by the former U.S. diplomats as a new front to pressure and isolate Iran until it suspends its uranium enrichment program.
