Iran says it has filed a complaint with the International Monetary Fund against a U.S. treasury department ban on a leading Iranian bank.

Iranian state television quotes central bank chief Ebrahim Sheibani as saying Iran lodged the complaint after the United States imposed sanctions this month on Bank Saderat.

U.S. officials allege the Iranian government uses the bank to transfer millions of dollars to terrorist groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas.

Sheibani says the ban is politically motivated and the United States has not provided any evidence for its claim.

Iranian banks have long been denied access to the U.S. financial system but are able to access the system indirectly through third-country banks. The ban effectively cuts off Bank Saderat from the U.S. financial system.

The cut-off comes as Washington continues to pressure Iran to stop enriching uranium as part of its nuclear program.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

... Payvand News - 9/26/06 ... --