Iranian Bank Accounts Blocked in Malaysia Due to Sanctions
Malaysian banks have taken action to close bank accounts of Iranian individuals and companies. It is reported that this measure is being taken due to US financial sanctions against Iran. The pressure of sanctions on the lives of people in Iran is increasing.
One day after the release of a Human Rights Watch report on the destructive effects of sanctions on Iranians’ access to medicine and medical supplies, news of blocked bank accounts for Iranians in Malaysia emerges.
Reuters news agency on Wednesday, November 8 (October 30), reported from Kuala Lumpur about the sudden closure of bank accounts of Iranians in Malaysia. Banks have given Iranians residing in Malaysia one month to withdraw their money from their bank accounts.
Several Iranian individuals and companies that had bank accounts in Malaysia confirmed this news in conversations with Reuters reporters.
The reason for the closure of Iranian bank accounts by Malaysian banks is stated to be US sanctions against Iran. Reuters views this as a reflection of increased pressure on the Iranian people.
“Mass Account Closures”
The Reuters reporter spoke of “mass closures” of Iranian bank accounts in Malaysia. This has been confirmed by several Iranians residing in Malaysia as well as one employee of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
It appears that Malaysian banks are responding more cautiously than other countries in Southeast Asia to US threats to punish individuals and financial institutions that cooperate with Iranians.
Bahrang Samadi, a university professor, told Reuters about the “mass closure” of Iranian bank accounts in Malaysia, saying that Malaysian banks are acting as if they are “more Catholic than the Pope.” His reference is to Iranian residents of America’s access to their bank accounts.
It is reported that approximately 10,000 Iranian citizens live in Malaysia. Bahrang Samadi is one of the Iranians whose bank account was closed after 14 years.
Samadi said that bank officials informed him that his bank account would be closed within one month. He said that as of Sunday, October 27, he still had online access to his account.
It should be noted that Malaysia is among the countries that, despite US sanctions against Iran, has sought to maintain its diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
It should be added that banks have only informed Iranians residing in Malaysia through a brief letter without stating any reason that they are ending the provision of banking services to them and have expressed regret in this regard.
Reuters reporter’s efforts to obtain responses from Malaysian government officials regarding this bank action have been unsuccessful.
Source: DW
