The UK’s top diplomat, Liz Truss, said the £400 million that Britain owes Iran is a “legitimate debt” that the British government wants to pay.
The foreign secretary was asked about the amount at a Chatham House event on Wednesday, where she set out her foreign policy aims.
She said they were working to “resolve the issue” over the debt, relating to a cancelled order for 1,500 Chieftain tanks dating back to the 1970s.
Truss said, “We do want to pay this debt, we recognize it’s a legitimate debt,” the Independent reported.
“But of course, there are lots of issues, which I’m sure you are quite well aware of.”
She added that she had spoken to her Iranian counterpart, but said, “It is not simple, for various reasons.”
