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Iranian FM Prods US on Bank Restrictions


Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini arrive to attend a press briefing after their meeting in Tehran, Iran, April 16, 2016.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini arrive to attend a press briefing after their meeting in Tehran, Iran, April 16, 2016.

Iran's foreign minister said Saturday that Washington should do more to remove obstacles to the Islamic Republic's ability to do business with non-U.S. banks.

Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran's goal in nuclear talks was to gain access to the global financial system.

While Washington and the European Union ended the sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program, U.S. banks are still blocked for Iranian businesses, and some U.S. sanctions aimed at alleged Iranian sponsorship of terrorism remain in place. That makes European banks reluctant to do business with Tehran for fear of legal problems stemming from the remaining U.S. sanctions.

Zarif spoke at a news briefing in Tehran after meeting with the European Union's foreign policy chief, Frederica Mogherini.

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