Tehran, April 25, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Monday that Iran will take the US to International Court of Justice for misappropriation of Iranian funds.

'Iran will legal action against the United States for misappropriation of two billion dollars from Iranian funds in the US. We hold the US Administration responsible for preservation of Iranian funds and if they are plundered, we will lodge complaint with the ICJ for reparation,' Zarif said in a joint press conference with his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Poposki.
'We have announced since the beginning that Iranian government does not recognize the US extra-territorial law and consider the US court ruling to blockade Iranian funds null and void and in gross violation of the International Law.'
'I have declared Iranian protest to US Secretary of State John Kerry over seizure of Iranian funds by the US court. He got to know our protest since the US court made such illegal action.'
'We do our best to prevent the US access to Iranian funds and in order to achieve the goal, we should not transfer Iranian funds to the US and we should take care of the national funds of the Iranian people.'
Iran will explore all the international legal institutions to retake Iranian funds from the United States, he said.
'Iranian Government has decided to form a special committee to investigate first of all why such a thing happened. Iran's money in the US had been for investment there. The second point is how to prevent repetition of such cases and the third is how to prevent such an illegal action to take effect.'
He blamed the former government for investment in the US contribution bond market.
Zarif said since such an illegal measure by the US has precedent for years, Iran's organs have always been on the watch not to allow assets of the country go to the US to foil their attempt to block Iranian funds.
He said unfortunately, the former government channelled the funds for investment in the contribution bonds market and of course there are provisions envisaged by the international investment law to retake Iranian funds and the incumbent government will explore the specialized courts envisaged by the International Investment Law to retake Iranian funds.
Zarif touched on the visit of his Macedonian counterpart to Tehran and said Iran is for the first ever hosting a guest from Macedonia.
'We have established diplomatic ties with Macedonia since its independence. Over the past several years we had more restricted ties with the friendly country, Macedonia, due to sanctions. With the visit of Macedonian foreign minister to Tehran the ground will be paved for more extensive relations.'
Zarif said talks between the Iranian and Macedonian parties concerned cultural, political and economic relations.
'A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Macedonian party and Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati and the two sides are to have closer cooperation in tourism.'
Announcing that Iranian and Macedonian parties agreed to have regular political talks on mutual and regional issues, Zarif said as a country in the Balkans and as a country lying on the path of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, Macedonia is exposed to danger of expansion of extremism.
He said the two sides also held discussions on economic subjects with focus on the private sector.
The talks focused on contribution of Iranian private sector into Macedonian infrastructural projects and trade, including export of the technical and engineering services, he said.
He hoped that the visit of the Macedonian delegation will lead to enhance level of Iran-Macedonia relations as well as stability and security of the region, the Middle East and the Balkans.
'We are confident that we have the ground for extensive cooperation through talks.'