Foreign Ministry Moves to Contain Yoon's Remarks: "Firm Commitment to Developing Relations with Iran"

Iran's Position Request
“Encouraging Words to Troops to Do Their Best in Mission Execution”

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's statement that "the most threatening country and enemy of the UAE is Iran" during his visit to the Ark Unit troops deployed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that it was a remark intended to encourage the troops to do their best in their mission.

On the 17th, the spokesperson office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "(President Yoon Suk-yeol's remarks) are unrelated to the bilateral relations with Iran or other countries, and we hope there will be no unnecessary overinterpretation."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs particularly emphasized, "Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1962, our country has maintained a long-standing friendly and cooperative relationship with Iran, and our government's commitment to the continuous development of relations with Iran remains firm and unwavering."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This position from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came after the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is awaiting a response from the South Korean government regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's recent remarks.

On the 16th (local time), the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is "waiting for an explanation from the South Korean government" concerning President Yoon Suk-yeol's comment that "Iran is the enemy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)." According to the state-run IRNA news agency and others, Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the Foreign Ministry is monitoring the recent remarks by the South Korean president interfering in the relationship between Iran and the UAE.

Spokesperson Kanaani criticized, "The South Korean president's remarks show a complete lack of awareness of the historical and friendly relations among the Persian Gulf coastal countries, including Iran and the UAE, and the rapidly progressing positive developments related to these."

He added, "The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seriously monitoring the recent stance of the South Korean government, especially the South Korean president's remarks about the relationship between Iran and the UAE," and "We are awaiting the South Korean government's position on this matter."

Earlier, on the afternoon of the 15th, President Yoon visited the UAE Ark Unit and said, "This is your homeland," adding, "The security of our brotherly nation, the UAE, is our security." He continued, "The most threatening country and enemy of the UAE is Iran, and our enemy is North Korea," and stated, "We and the UAE share very similar positions."