South Korea is making a diplomatic effort to release an oil tanker confiscated by Iran amid a dispute over frozen bank funds, the latest strain of tensions between Tehran and a U.S. ally.
A South Korean delegation arrived in Tehran on Thursday, three days after the arrest of 9,797-ton oil tanker Hankuk Chemi and its 20 crew members. The delegation is expected to lay the groundwork for a visit to Iran on Sunday by the country’s deputy foreign minister, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry.
The confiscation of oil tankers coincides with rising international tensions between the Iranian and American allies over possible nationwide links to trade disruptions in shipping, progress toward a possible nuclear weapon and alleged cyberattacks.
Tehran said the ship violated environmental regulations, but Seoul answers the claim. According to the European Union’s maritime transport database, Equasis, the most recent oil inspection during a 2019 port visit to China showed no environmental violations and only minor safety violations.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said talks are unlikely to begin before South Korea’s deputy foreign minister arrives, and described the arrest as a technical problem that “is processing in its professional and judicial framework “.