[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The Korean chemical carrier ship 'Korea Chemi' and its captain, who were detained in Iran, have been released after 95 days of detention.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 9th, "The detention of our national ship (Korea Chemi) and its captain, which were detained by Iranian authorities and anchored near Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas, Iran, has been lifted."
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ship completed local administrative procedures and safely departed at 10:20 a.m. on the 9th (Korean time).
Earlier, on January 4, Iran seized the Korean chemical carrier Korea Chemi and a total of 20 crew members, including five Koreans, in waters near the Strait of Hormuz on charges of marine pollution.
On February 2, Iran released 19 crew members but kept the captain and the ship, citing the need to continue judicial procedures regarding marine pollution.
Nine of the released crew members have already returned home, and currently, a total of 13 people, including the captain and replacement crew members for ship management, are on board.
Previously, Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a press conference held on the 5th (local time), "All investigations related to the (Korea Chemi) incident have been conducted in a way that supports the captain and the ship," and "The judiciary is also approaching the case positively," raising expectations that the release was imminent.
The government has been negotiating for a swift release, including a visit to Iran by Choi Jong-geon, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from January 10 to 12.
Although Iran officially claimed that the ship was detained due to marine pollution, it did not submit evidence despite repeated requests from the Korean government and reportedly did not properly proceed with related judicial procedures.
The government analyzed that Iran's dissatisfaction with not being able to freely use its won funds frozen in Korean banks due to U.S. sanctions against Iran was the cause of the seizure.
While the freezing of funds was due to U.S. sanctions, Iran believed that Korea was not making sufficient efforts because it was conscious of its ally, the United States.
However, the U.S. side has stated that it has not approved the release of Iranian funds frozen in Korean banks. On the 9th (local time), the U.S. Department of State announced that it had not approved the unfreezing of Iranian funds frozen in Korean banks. This means that the funds in Korea, which are the cause of this incident, remain frozen.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State said in response to a question from Voice of America (VOA) about whether the U.S. would approve the plan to release frozen funds, which is reportedly being discussed between the Korean government and the U.S., "The U.S. has not approved the release of Iranian funds frozen in Korean banks under sanctions."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the frozen funds issue has not been resolved. Regarding the background of the release of Korea Chemi, it pointed to close diplomatic communication, the possibility of progress in the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) negotiations, and support for UN contributions.
The Korean side also promised to send a high-level delegation to persuade Iran. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun will visit Iran from the 11th to the 13th. This visit marks the first time in 44 years that a Korean prime minister has visited Iran.
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