South Korea’s foreign ministry summoned on Tuesday Iran’s ambassador to lodge a protest over Tehran's reported threat to take a legal step against Seoul over the freeze last year of the country's assets in line with US sanctions.
Koh Kyung-sok, director-general in charge of African and Middle Eastern affairs, voiced regrets to Iranian Ambassador Saeed Badamchi Shabestari, as Tehran's foreign ministry spokesperson has told Iranian media that the case could be referred to the International Court of Justice unless the assets are released, reported the Yonhap news agency.
"The official in charge called in the ambassador and expressed regrets over the inappropriate remarks," Kim In-chul, the ministry's spokesperson, told a regular press briefing.
Iran last month called on Seoul to release billions of dollars in funds frozen because of US sanctions.
South Korea’s imports of Iranian oil have been zero since May 2019, when the United States revoked waivers which had allowed some countries to continue buying Iranian oil without falling foul of US sanctions.
The United States re-imposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 after President Donald Trump withdrew from a deal to lift them in return for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran calls the US sanctions economic warfare.
