Iran will allow the crew members of a South Korean ship it seized for alleged environmental pollution to leave the country.
As the Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh informed, after a request by the South Korean government, the crew of the Korean ship have received permission to leave the country in a humanitarian move by Iran.
What is more, Reuters reports that Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke by telephone with his South Korean counterpart Choi Jong-kun on the release of the crew of 19 and the issue of releasing $7 billion in Iranian funds frozen in South Korea because of U.S. sanctions.
Until now, Iran has denied allegations that the seizure of the tanker and its 20-member crew amounted to hostage-taking, and said it was Seoul that was holding the Iranian funds “hostage”.
The freezing of some $7 billion of Iranian funds is connected to U.S. sanctions which the aUS reimposed on Tehran in 2018 after then-President Donald Trump withdrew the US from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
The South Korean-flagged MT Hankuk Chemi was seized on January 4 by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
This incident came at a time of increased tension throughout the region. Iran has recently announced it is starting to enrich uranium up to 20%, a step towards nuclear weapons.
