Iran Seeks Diplomatic Resolution for Crescent Gas Case
WANA (Oct 08) – Hojatoleslam Majid Ansari, Iran’s Vice President for Legal Affairs, addressed the Crescent gas contract dispute and described Iran’s conditional accession to the CFT (Combating the Financing of Terrorism) Convention as an opportunity for the country to take legal action against the crimes of the Israeli regime on Iranian soil.
On the sidelines of Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, regarding the Court of Appeal’s recent decision on the Crescent case, Ansari clarified that no new verdict has been issued, and the appellate court has simply upheld the original ruling. He expressed hope that the building in question, owned by the National Iranian Oil Company Pension Fund, could be returned to Iran through either settlement or diplomatic channels.
“The circumstances at the time were specific but preventable,” Ansari noted, adding that legal proceedings of this scale are inherently long, and related cases Crescent 2 and 3 are still ongoing. He emphasized that Iran’s International Legal Center and the Ministry of Oil are actively pursuing these cases to ensure the country’s rights are upheld.
NIOC’s London Property Seized by UK Court
WANA (Oct 06) – In a new ruling, the UK Court of Appeal has ordered the seizure of a London property owned by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in connection with the long-running Crescent Gas dispute. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by Crescent Gas, which claimed that NIOC transferred the London-based property, […]
Reflecting on the case’s history, Ansari said, “It is regrettable that more diligence was not exercised at the time, which could have prevented this lawsuit.”
On claims regarding the alleged seizure of Babak Zanjani’s assets in Malaysia for Iran’s benefit, Ansari dismissed them as unfounded. “There is no verified evidence on this matter,” he said, urging media outlets not to circulate such reports, as they could be used against the Islamic Republic or cited by individuals still subject to convictions.
Answering a question about Iran’s conditional accession to the CFT (Combating the Financing of Terrorism) Convention, Ansari stated that joining would enhance the judiciary’s and the legal affairs office’s ability to file cases against “terrorist activities targeting Iran” and to hold the Israeli government accountable.
NIOC Pursues Legal Action After UK Court Ruling on Seized Property
WANA (Oct 08) – The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) announced in a statement that it will continue to pursue legal and international measures to overturn a British court ruling that upheld the seizure of a building belonging to the Oil Industry Pension, Savings, and Welfare Fund in London. According to the statement: “The […]
He added that another potential benefit of accession could be moving Iran from FATF’s blacklist to the grey list, though he noted that under current sanctions, this aspect holds limited practical significance for the country.
Previously, in a new ruling, the UK Court of Appeal had ordered the seizure of a London property owned by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in connection with the long-running Crescent Gas dispute.
The decision followed a lawsuit filed by Crescent Gas, which claimed that NIOC transferred the London-based property, known as the “NIOC House,” to the Oil Industry Pension and Welfare Fund after an international arbitration ruling was issued in favor of the company.
