The embassy—properly called the chancery—at 3005 Massachusetts Avenue NW is getting some maintenance right now, the State Department announced last Tuesday. “Work is needed to make sure that the chancery, including the dome, is stable, watertight, and that the mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems are in a safe condition,” it said.
Under US law, when relations are severed with a country, the State Department becomes the custodian of the embassy properties left behind. The Iranian buildings have been rented out and have earned income that belongs to Iran and that is used to pay for the types of maintenance being done now. The State Department assured taxpayers that no US tax monies are being used on the Iranian building.
Until the maintenance work was started, the chancery was used for many years as the office that processed license plates for foreign diplomats in Washington. The ambassador’s residence next door, a stately old building, is often rented out for parties and weddings.
The United States severed relations with Iran in April 1980 during the hostage crisis and took over several properties owned by the Iranian government at that time. The United States recognizes Iran as the legal owner of the properties and has taken legal action to prevent Americans with claims against Iran from seizing any of the properties. The Islamic Republic does not recognize the United States as the legal owner of the embassy properties in Tehran. The old embassy compound is occupied by the Pasdaran, which uses it as a school.