South Korea reacts to Iranian attitude
The tension between South Korea and Iran following the seizure of a South Korean-flagged oil tanker last night is now in a new phase. The Iranian authorities are accusing the South Korean-flagged tanker of polluting their waters, as the ship was reportedly carrying oil-based chemicals. Under this premise, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard proceeded to seize it and transfer it to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
Seoul's reaction was immediate. First of all, the Iranian ambassador in the South Korean capital, Said Badamchi Shabestari, was summoned to request the immediate release of the ship Hankuk Chemi. At the meeting the Iranian ambassador held with the director of the Africa and Middle East department of the Korean foreign ministry, Ko Kyung-sook, no agreement was reached on the release of the vessel and its crew, although the Iranian ambassador indicated that they are in perfect condition.
Second, according to a statement issued by the South Korean defence ministry, the Cheonghae naval unit, which includes the destroyer Choi Yung, has been sent to the area to deter piracy in the area but also to send a signal to Teheran. The naval unit will be responsible for providing cover for South Korean ships transiting through the Straits of Hormuz and Gulf waters.
Iran has been taking advantage of its access to these waters to harass this important trade route and force the countries that use it to make certain diplomatic concessions to ease the situation the country is experiencing owing to the sanctions imposed on it.
South Korea is not the first country to suffer from a situation like this, and the United Kingdom has already had to deal with a similar problem in 2019. There have also been several attacks on this type of ship in Gulf waters, which has been viewed with concern owing to the huge amount of traffic on this route.
The United States has also requested the release of the South Korean tanker, calling the Iranian action blackmail. The relationship between Seoul and Teheran is at a delicate stage owing to the blockage of $7 billion in a South Korean bank as a result of the reactivation of the US sanctions that led to its freezing.
The release of these funds was to be discussed at the meeting between South Korea's deputy foreign minister and the Iranian authorities. However, this situation undermines the goodwill that existed to reach an agreement on the part of Seoul.
