Korea, Iran poles apart over tanker seizure, frozen assets
Posted : 2021-01-13 15:33
Updated : 2021-01-13 21:23
First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun, left, poses with Iran s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran, Iran, Monday. / Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
By Kang Seung-woo
Korea and Iran remain far apart over the release of a Korean oil tanker and its crewmembers, with First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun leaving Tehran, Tuesday, without any deal despite a series of meetings with senior Iranian officials, including the foreign minister and its central bank chief.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday, the government plans to continue talks with Iran and will work to bring the tanker and crew back home as early as possible, based on Choi s discussions with the Iranian side during his three-day visit. The ministry also said it will actively offer consular assistance to the crewmembers.
Iran Agrees to Free South Korean Shipâs Crew
In return, South Korea pledged speedy action to address Iranâs complaints about $7 billion impounded there as a result of U.S. sanctions.
Images released by Iranâs Tasnim News Agency showing what appeared to be Iranian military craft escorting the South Korean tanker Hankuk Chemi in January.Credit.Tasnim News Agency, via Associated Press
Published Feb. 2, 2021Updated Feb. 16, 2021
SEOUL, South Korea â Iran has agreed to free the 19-member crew of a seized South Korea-flagged ship, both countries said Tuesday, in what appeared to be the first significant gesture by the Iranians to de-escalate the problem since impounding the vessel a month ago.
Monday 01 February, 2021 | 11:55 AM
NEW DELHI: A letter found close to the scene of a blast outside the Israeli embassy in New Delhi last week was a death threat to the ambassador that warned he was being constantly being watched and could be attacked at any time, latest reports said.
The handwritten note, in English, but riddled with grammatical and spelling errors, was addressed to Israel’s ambassador, Ron Malka, and referred to him as a “terrorist of the terrorist nation.”
It claimed to be from the “India Hizbollah,” a group that is not previously known, according to the report, which included a photo of the letter. Lebanese Hezbollah is an Iran-backed terror organization that is sworn to Israel’s destruction.
Letter addressed to ambassador says he is under constant observation, cites slain Iranian commander, nuclear scientist, is signed by 'Indian Hezbollah'