Iran’s dissatisfaction with the final case “is not receiving interest on frozen funds”

Iran, which captured the Korean Chemie, reaffirmed its position that it will’follow domestic judicial procedures’ on the release of Korean detainees. On the other hand, he did not hide his complaints about the frozen funds in Korea, saying, “I am not receiving interest.” Concerns are growing that the detention of five Korean sailors will be prolonged as the Iranian side sticks to this position with the first Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong-gun, who had been negotiating with Iran since the 10th. On the 12th, Vice Minister Choi finishes the official schedule and leaves for Qatar.
The obstacle to the negotiations to lift the detention was the issue of $7 billion (7 trillion won) of oil exports from Iran, which was eventually frozen at a commercial bank in Korea. Iran has always argued that frozen funds and ship capture are separate issues, but criticized South Korea for the amount of crude oil exports throughout the negotiations. On the 12th, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “We strongly protest the ship detention issue and are requesting the removal of detention as soon as possible, but Iran is in a position to wait for the established judicial procedure.” “The Iranian side (relating to the frozen fund) is talking carefully about their wishes. I said.

In particular, Iran’s Vice Minister Abbas Arachi said in a meeting with Choi on the 10th that “the issue of frozen funds is not being resolved due to the lack of political will in South Korea” and that “the relationship between the two countries will develop only when this issue is resolved.” Ban Kwan-young Pars News reported. In response, Vice Minister Choi said, “We will make it a priority for the Korean government to provide Iran with access to frozen funds in Korea. I will try to find a final solution to the frozen fund problem,” he replied and persuaded Arachi.

In addition, Iranian central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said in a meeting with Vice Minister Choi on the 11th, “I cannot tolerate the fact that the 7 billion dollars of Iranian funds have been tied up in Korea for more than two years.” Not only do they do it, but they are not paying interest,” the Iranian media Tehran Times reported. President Hemmati protested that “one year and six months ago, key figures including the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea promised to support and cooperate with the frozen fund issue, but it was not kept.”

Ahead of his departure from Qatar, Vice Minister Choi began working on an additional persuasion to the Iranian National Assembly Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee and the Vice Minister of Justice. An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Due to the nature of Iran’s political system, the Ministry of Justice has some degree of involvement and influence not only in the legal field but also in the areas related to Iran’s law. In the case of the Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian parliament, He said he was from a senior position.

Reporter Jeong Jin-woo [email protected]