WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund yesterday rejected a call by a US anti-Iran group for it to cut its relations with Tehran's central bank in order to adhere to US and European sanctions.

The IMF said its account with Bank Markazi is simply related to Iran's membership in the IMF and does not contravene sanctions placed on Tehran to pressure it not to develop nuclear weapons.

The advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran, a group of US ex- diplomats and government officials, said that the IMF needed to shut down its account with Bank Markazi, a specific target of the sanctions, or suspend Iran's membership in the fund.

The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/ 3rd May 2012