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| ▲ Government delegation leaves the country to negotiate with Iranian detained sailors Go Gyeong-seok, head of the government delegation to negotiate the early release of Korean ships and crew detained in Iran, is answering questions from reporters while leaving the country at Incheon International Airport on the night of the 6th. 2021.1.6 | |
| Ⓒ Yonhap News |
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On the afternoon of the 4th, the Korean government’s local negotiations for the early release of the Korean national oil tanker,’Korea Chemie’, captured by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf began.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam said at a regular briefing on the afternoon of the 7th that the on-site support team of the Korean Embassy in Iran arrived at Bandar Abbas Port in southern Iran, where the Korean Chemie was in custody in the early morning of the 6th and interviewed one of our sailors in person.
Through this crew, the on-site support team confirmed that all other crew members, including him, were safe and healthy, and Iranian Ambassador Yoo Jeong-hyun also spoke with the crew to reconfirm the safety, Choi said. The crew reportedly stated that there was no particularly threatening attitude, including violence, and no actions by Iran that could be problematic.
The working-level delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Africa Middle East Bureau Chief Ko Gyeong-seok, is also scheduled to arrive at the local area by departing from Incheon Airport in the early morning of the 7th.
Iran had a possibility of delaying departure because Thursday and Friday were holidays, but prior to the seriousness of the matter and a full-scale discussion with the Iranian side, Iran reported the local situation through the embassy and left in haste to coordinate related procedures, Choi said.
Spokesman Choi complained to the South Korean media reports that oil tankers were detained because of a freeze on oil exports tied to Korea. He emphasized the fact that he visited after finishing his work.
Following this, the first Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong-gun will also leave for Iran on the 10th to discuss key issues including the detention of oil tankers with high-ranking Iranian officials, and then visit nearby Qatar. Vice Minister Choi’s visit to Iran was scheduled prior to this advance.
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| ▲ Oil tanker Korean chemistry The Korean-born oil tanker “Korea Chemie” is being captured by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s ships in the Gulf waters on the 4th (local time). | |
| Ⓒ AP news agency |
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Vaccine Provision Problem “Our action is complete, Iran should make a final decision”
Meanwhile, the Iranian side expressed dissatisfaction with the $7 billion of frozen funds, but argued that this incident was not a money issue but a’completely technical issue’ such as environmental pollution caused by Korean oil tankers.
Spokesman Choi said, “Our government has requested Iran to provide evidence to reveal the facts, but we have not yet received it and are waiting. We are reviewing the facts and legal relations.”
Regarding reports that Iran is requesting a safe remittance of $1 billion of frozen funds, the government said, “The government has already created a pan-government TF related to frozen funds, and is in regular consultations with Iran, and is continuing to expand humanitarian aid such as medical equipment and vaccines. “Although “the scale of support is under discussion and it is variable, it is difficult to confirm concretely.”
Regarding the provision of the vaccine through’CoVax Facility’, an international project for the Corona 19 vaccine, “All procedures such as special approval from the United States have already been completed at the request of Iran, but it has not been implemented due to the issue of trust in the United States of Iran.” “Our actions have been completed and the Iranian side is the final decision.”
Iran is concerned that if the Bank of Korea sends vaccine funds to the Swiss bank, it will have to go through the US bank to convert the won into dollars, which may cause the US to freeze again in the process.
In addition, regarding the visit of Vice Minister Choi Jong-Geon on the 10th, he said, “I heard that you are thinking of various creative ways for the freezing fund, but it is still under discussion, so I cannot disclose it now.”