In a gesture of goodwill, Iran has granted permission to leave to the crew of the seized South Korean tanker, MT Hankuk Chemi.
In a press statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has announced that exit visas have been issued to the 20 crew members of the MT Hankuk Chemi. The vessel was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in early January, but Iran has denied holding the crew hostage as collateral against the $7b in funds frozen in South Korea under US sanctions.
In statement on Tuesday, spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh, said the crew members were being allowed to leave Iran “in a humanitarian gesture”. He said the crew obtained permits to leave following a request by the South Korean government and in cooperation with the Iranian Judiciary.
Legal proceedings concerning the ship and its cargo are ongoing, the spokesman added. Khatibzadeh added that Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi and First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, Choi Jong Kun held a telephone conversation about the “immediate” release of Iran’s frozen funds.
