A delegation team from South Korea is heading to Iran on Wednesday seeking the release of a chemical tanker and its 20-member crew seized in Gulf waters by Iranian forces, a news agency reported. Iran denied the allegation on Tuesday it was using the ship and its crew as hostages, a day after it seized the tanker near the Strait of Hormuz while pressing a demand for Seoul to release $7 billion in funds frozen under US sanctions.
MT Hankuk Chemi tanker has been seen as an attempt by Tehran to assert its demands, just two weeks before President-elect Joe Biden takes office in the United States. Iran wants the US President elect to lift sanctions that were imposed by outgoing President Donald Trump. South Korea's foreign ministry spoke with Iranian ambassador on Tuesday towards early release of the tanker and its crew of 20. But Iran stated that the ship was held over environmental violations.
South Korea's report submitted in the parliament states the ministry of South Korea is reviewing whether the ship violated international law by polluting the waters, as claimed by Tehran, but also whether Iran violated it during the boarding and seizure process. South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun is scheduled to visit Tehran on Sunday January 10, previously scheduled visit and during which a range of bilateral issues will be discussed, the ministry said on Tuesday.
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