NEW YORK, 12 June, 2021(TON): On Friday, the UN spokesman said that after partial payment of the dues, Iran has regained its voting rights at the UN General Assembly.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "I can confirm to you today that the Islamic Republic of Iran has paid the minimum amount due and is no longer under Article 19 of the UN Charter."

According to Article 19, a member state can no longer vote in the General Assembly if it is at least two years in arrears for membership dues.

On Friday, Majid Takht Ravanchi, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations tweeted, "Illegal U.S. sanctions have not just deprived our people of medicine; they have also prevented Iran from paying our dues in arrears to the UN. After more than 6 months of working on it, the UN today announced it has received the funds. ALL inhumane sanctions must be lifted NOW."

Iran had to pay a minimum of 16.25 million U.S. dollars to regain its voting rights.

Iran paid after a letter on 28 May Guterres informed the UNGA that five countries the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Iran, Sao Tome and Principe, and Somalia were at least two years in arrears