US lets two Iran banks off UN sanctions list
The United States, in a confidence-building gesture with Iran, did not block a Venezuelan request to delist two Iranian banks from a UN Security Council sanctions list.
![IRAN/BANKS-BRITAIN People pass the letterbox of Iranian owned Bank Sepah International in London December 22, 2011. Saderat is one of a handful of lonely Iranian banking outposts that have managed to hold out in Europe's financial hub despite escalating tensions with the West over Iran's nuclear programme. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor (BRITAIN - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS) - RTR2VJUY](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2016/01/RTR2VJUY.jpg/RTR2VJUY.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=pCA3KVw-)
WASHINGTON — Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity with Iran over the weekend that saw US prisoners freed, the nuclear deal go into effect and sanctions lifted, the United States permitted the removal of two Iranian banks from a United Nations sanctions list, US officials said Jan. 19.
The delisting of the Iranian banks — Bank Sepah and Bank Sepah International — occurred at the UN Security Council on Jan. 17 at the request of Venezuela. The United States decided not to block the request, US officials said.