A government working-level delegation to negotiate the release of South Korean crew members detained in Iran leaves Korea shortly after. However, there are concerns that the negotiation process will not be smooth as the Iranian government is showing a lukewarm attitude as it does not require diplomatic visits.
Kwak Sang-eun is a reporter.
A government working-level delegation headed by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Middle East Department leaves for Iran.
The delegation plans to meet with officials from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others to negotiate with the aim of the prompt release of the crew.
We have prepared data to refute this as there is’no evidence’ for the sea pollution claimed by Iran.
[고경석/실무대표단장 (외교부 아프리카중동국장) : 대사관하고도 협조하고 전략도 수립을 해야 하고요. 가능한 대로 이란 측 인사들하고 계속 접촉하고, 면담도 하고 협의할 예정입니다.]
The problem is the Iranian government’s lukewarm attitude toward negotiations.
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “I cannot understand the attitude of the South Korean government in relation to the case” and “a diplomatic visit is not necessary.”
It is known that the Iranian government actually blocked emails sent and received by the Korean shipping company Kemiho to understand the local situation.
It is analyzed that it is not irrelevant to the situation where the voices of hard-line conservatives such as the Revolutionary Guards that captured ships in Iran are growing.
[장지향/아산정책연구원 중동연구센터장 : 트럼프 대통령이 이란 핵 합의를 일방적으로 파기하고 나오면서 이란 내에서는 급진적인 반미 강경파들이 득세를 했고 온건개혁파들은 설 자리를 많이 잃었죠.]
There are voices saying that it is necessary to prepare for prolonged negotiations as well as preparing strategies to bring out cooperation from hard-lining conservatives in Iran.
– .
