When we talk about Britain’s “historic debt” to Iran, it could be referring to a handful of different grievances, from the 1953 coup on. The literal debt, however, is $535 million that Iran paid to Britain to order several tanks in the leadup to the Islamic Revolution.
What happened from there is a tale as old as time. Britain decided that they didn’t want the new Iran to have the tanks they’d already bought and paid for, but also decided that they really liked the money. So they kept the payment and didn’t give Iran any tanks.
Lawsuits and court orders and sanctions did nothing, but Wednesday Britain confirmed the debt has been paid, and Iran released dual-nationals who had been held over the issue.
This deal comes on the sidelines of the Iran nuclear deal negotiations, which are getting close to finalizing. Decades of grievances between Iran and other nations could be resolved in the same way, with a new appetite for diplomacy.
With interest it would’ve been over a billion easy.
“Lawsuits and court orders and sanctions did nothing, but Wednesday Britain confirmed the debt has been paid, and Iran released dual-nationals who had been held over the issue.”___ Does this mean if there wasn’t any dual nationals in Iran, the debt would not be paid…?!
The debt hasn’t been paid.
The contract was entered into, and payment made by, the Shah’s regime, not the regime which overthrew it. The closest thing to “repaying the debt” would be sending the money to the National Council of Iran, the “government in exile” headed by the Shah’s heir, Reza Pahlavi. This was just a bribe/ransom.
Kudos to the Iranians because they know how to deal with the Brits and the Americans. They have survived the West’s economic assault and they probably have nuclear weapons since no one is in hurry to invade them. Shah was puppet and was deserted in his time of need such is the fate of traitors.
The debt has already been paid as Iran Foreign Ministry has confirmed…! And No, it is not being held by Swiss government…! Thanks for the history lesson though…!
As for Reza Pahlavi, he is just history…! He wouldn’t get a dime and the only thing he can brag about is that his name would appear in history books…! The Hollywood should make a film about his exiled life…!
Clearly!
The Brits are giving back the money because they want economic opportunities in Iran. I expect most of the sanctions measures are going to be removed and everybody with anything to sell or buy will be in Tehran.