TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi called on the Malaysian government to cooperate to resolve the problems of Iranian individuals residing in the Southeast Asian country whose bank accounts are being closed due to the US sanctions.

Asked about the reports of banking restrictions imposed on Iranians in Malaysia, Mousavi told reporters on Thursday, “Sadly, a number of Malaysian banks have placed a series of restrictions on opening accounts and offering banking services to Iranians, under the influence of the United States’ economic terrorism.”

“In this regard, our country’s Embassy in Malaysia has put the issue on the agenda in constant and intensive arrangements with Malaysia’s government bodies and banking officials, and multiple negotiations have been held with the relevant authorities, and figuring out a solution and resolving the problem is still on the agenda,” the spokesman added.

Mousavi further noted that the banking restrictions have created problems for the presence and activities of Iranians in Malaysia, particularly the participation of Iranian elites and university students in Malaysia’s scientific and academic sphere as well as those involved in the trade and business sector.

“We hope that the friendly state of Malaysia would work out solutions to settle the problem, considering the Malaysian government’s goodwill and explicit and recognized stances on the unilateral (US) sanctions, and that the problems that have arisen in Iranians’ bank accesses would be resolved with consultation and on the basis of the legal frameworks available for the issue,” he concluded.

Reuters has reported that banks were closing the Iranian bank accounts in Malaysia.

Many Iranians said they knew of dozens of compatriots who had received notices from Malaysia’s CIMB and RHB Bank.

Malaysia’s prime minister told reporters on Wednesday the country was being “forced to make it difficult” for Iranians to live normal lives in the country.

“Our ties are very good with Tehran, but we face some very strong pressures from certain quarters, which you may guess,” Mahathir Mohamad said, without naming where the pressure was coming from.

The reason for blocking Iranian bank accounts in Malaysia said to be “We are forced to do this because if we don’t, they will close our banks abroad. It’s a kind of bullying by very powerful people.”