Iran Slams US Illegal Decision to Seize NY Skyscraper

Local Editor

Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed as "illegal" plans by US prosecutors to sell an Iran-linked Manhattan skyscraper, media reports said Saturday.
Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said in a statement late Friday the settlement lacked "legal credibility" and was influenced by "anti-Iran political propaganda," according to the reports in Iranian media.

The settlement was unveiled Thursday and has been approved by a federal judge.
Its main target is a 36-story building in the heart of New York City that is majority owned by the Alavi Foundation, a nonprofit corporation promoting Islamic culture and the Persian language.
US prosecutors claimed the foundation has transferred rental income and other funds to Iran's Bank Melli.
Iran denied links to the foundation.

"In spite of baseless claims by the prosecutor and the completely political and propaganda decision of the court, the Alavi Foundation is an independent charitable organization in the United States. It has no links to Iran," Afkham said.
The Iranian official further stated: "Even though such judicial-cum-political rulings are not new ... [with this case] the credibility of American courts is at stake."

Afkham noted that Iran has been a victim of terrorism itself, dismissing as ridiculous the US court's claim that Tehran was involved in the 9/11 attacks.
The statement did not say whether Iran was planning legal action against the settlement, but Afkham mentioned that Iranian citizens were allowed to file legal suits in the country against the US government.

The US government intends to distribute proceeds from the sale of the skyscraper to families affected by ‘terror' attacks it claimed are linked to Tehran, despite Iran's repeated denial of accountability.

A date has yet to be set for the sale of the properties, and one private plaintiff has not joined the settlement.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team