Iran has announced that it will release the crew of the Korean Kemi, a Korean oil tanker, who was detained for pollution of the marine environment. However, the detention of the ship was not lifted and the captain was not allowed to leave Iran.
On the 4th of last month, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard captured the Korean Chemie. AP=Yonhap News
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a press release on the night of the 2nd and said, “In a call between the first Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong-Geon and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi at 6:50 PM, vice-minister Arakchi said, We have been informed that we have decided to release it.”
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “I welcome Iran’s decision and urge the Iranian government to do its best to ensure that the captains and ships scheduled to remain are removed from detention as soon as possible.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that Arakchi promised “to ensure humanitarian treatment and sufficient consular assistance to the captain while judicial proceedings are in progress.”
Earlier, on the 4th of last month, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard captured the ship, claiming that the Korean Chemie departing from Saudi Arabia and heading for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) caused marine pollution. After 29 days, the sailors became free. There were 20 sailors on board, and 5 Korean nationals.
Vice Minister Choi Jong-Geon (right), who visited Iran last month, discussed the issue of lifting the detention of captured ships and sailors with Iran’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Arakchi. News 1
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Said Hativjade also made a statement before the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and said, “We allowed Korean ship crew members to leave the country on a humanitarian level,” Iran’s Irna news agency reported. However, he added, “The judicial investigation of the alleged violation of the ship and the captain continues within the framework of the law.”
He also discussed the issue of freezing the import price of Iranian crude oil, which was bound by sanctions. Spokesman Hativjade commented on the currency between the two countries’ vice-ministers and said, “The two countries have discussed ways to resolve the issue of Iranian assets frozen in Korean commercial banks. I emphasized will and effort.”
The release of the crew is good news, but concerns remain as the captain and the ship are still being held. Some interpretations suggest that Iran intentionally lifted the detention of only a few personnel in order to maintain bargaining power in the issue of lifting the frozen funds. Iran has argued that the capture of ships is for legal and technical reasons, but it is true that it has actually pressed South Korea in connection with the issue of frozen funds.
The shipbuilder’s reaction is that the release of detention is practically meaningless as long as the captain and the ship cannot leave. An official from DM Shipping, a shipbuilder of Kemiho Korea, said, “Even if the detainment of the sailors is lifted, it is impossible for the rest of the sailors to return to their respective countries in the situation where the captain and the ship are being held. It is the core manpower that all Korean sailors must remain in order to manage the ship, and about 10 sailors of Myanmar nationality are also unable to enter Myanmar due to a coup situation.” Following “There is nothing that has changed except that horses are only lifted from detention, while being bound by Iran and being able to travel freely on land. Iran’s mind was rather disintegrated by the lifting of detention for contempt.”Said.
Reporters Yoo Ji-hye, Jeong Jin-woo, and Lee Min-jung [email protected]