The visit of a South Korean delegation to discuss frozen Iranian funds in the Asian country overshadowed ongoing negotiations in Vienna centered around reviving the Iranian nuclear agreement.
Headed by South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun, the delegation held marathon meetings with the US delegation and the Europeans throughout Wednesday.
Although no party has officially announced holding the meetings, the Korean delegation headed to the Vienna Marriott Hotel, where the American team usually meets with the P4+1.
After a morning meeting that lasted more than two hours between the Korean and American delegations, Jong-kun left only to return about two hours later and meet again with the lead American negotiator, Robert Malley, who was seen leaving the hotel after the meeting.
Jong-kun then met with the heads of delegations of the three European countries, France, Britain, and Germany.
He then met with the head of the Iranian delegation, Ali Bagheri, and the European coordinator for the Vienna talks, Enrique Mora.
A senior South Korean diplomat will hold talks in Vienna this week with Iran and world powers over how to resolve the issue of frozen Iranian assets held in the Asian country, the South Korean foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
Indirect talks between Iran and the United States on salvaging the 2015 Iran nuclear deal resumed Monday.
The ministry said the delegation “would explore ways to resolve the issue of frozen Iranian assets in Korea” through consultations on the sidelines of the nuclear negotiations with Iran and in coordination with the United States, France, Germany, and Britain.
Iran has repeatedly demanded the release of its frozen assets in several countries because of US sanctions, including $7 billion in South Korea. Any release would need to be approved by Washington.
South Korea froze the funds in 2018 at a US request after the Trump administration withdrew from the nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
