
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, May 14, 1990                   TAG: 9005140221
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS                                LENGTH: Short

U.S., IRAN SIGN ACCORD ON FINANCIAL CLAIMS

The United States and Iran have signed a $105 million settlement of some 3,000 financial claims, bringing the two countries one step closer to re-establishing economic relations, a U.S. official said today.

The settlement deals primarily with so-called "Small Claims" for under $250,000 that stem from the 1979 Islamic revolution, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

It clears the way for the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal to deal with about $16 billion in major claims, whose resolution in turn could open the way to normalizing economic ties between the two nations, the official said.

The settlement accord was signed late Sunday night or early this morning by Timothy Ramish, U.S. agent to the tribunal, and Iranian Agent Ali Nobari, according to the American official at the tribunal.

The most recent settlement talks between U.S. and Iranian officials occurred shortly after the release of American hostages Frank Reed and Robert Polhill by pro-Iranian kidnappers in Lebanon.

- Associated Press

by CNB