TEHRAN- While visiting Abu Dhabi, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is often slammed for making shallow gaffes, raised eyebrows on Sunday by stating that Iran is the UAEs competing and largest risk .
Yoon made such a remark in spite of the truth that Tehran and Abu Dhabi have made efforts to reinforce their relations.The South Korean leader made a comparison in between the supposed hazard provided to his country by North Korea and what he dubbed the risk facing Abu Dhabi from Iran when speaking to the Korean military personnel stationed in the UAE during a recent see to the Persian Gulf Arab state.
Dealing with the soldiers, he stated, The security of the UAE, which is our bro country, is our security.
Yoon added, Iran positions the best hazard to the UAE, whilst North Korea is our adversary.
The UAE and we are in a really comparable circumstance.
The South Korean presidents newest discuss Irans ties with the UAE have actually drawn severe vitriol from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, which required an explanation from Seoul.The Islamic Republic of Iran is reacting to Yoon interventionist remarks about the state of the Islamic Republics relations with the UAE, Nasser Kanaani, the ministrys spokesperson, said on Monday.Kanaani said the South Korean presidents words reveal his complete ignorance of the historical and friendly relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Persian Gulf littoral nations, including the UAE.
The spurious accusations made by the South Korean president has left a path of his lack of knowledge and lack of understanding towards high-speed and favorable developments in between both countries, the representative pointed out.
The Foreign Ministry is vigilantly pursuing the recent positions of this country, particularly the remarks made by its president, on the relations in between Iran and the UAE, he stated, including Yoons remarks totally lack diplomatic validity.
Kanaani went to say that Iran is anticipating an answer from the South Korean Foreign Ministry.The latest move comes at a time when, in addition to its presidents unguarded remarks, South Korea has actually been withholding billions of dollars of Iranian assets under the guise that they have been frozen as a result of Washingtons unilateral sanctions versus Tehran.Unofficial estimates thought Iran has more than $7 billion in funds in two South Korean banks.
Far Seoul has declined to thaw them.Prior to the reimposition of U.S.
sanctions following Donald Trumps withdrawal from the 2015 Iran deal, officially understood as the Joint Compressive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran was South Koreas primary source of oil and condensate.In a clumsy relocation, the Foreign Ministry of South Korea quickly clarified that Yoons remarks were just implied to bolster the spirits of South Korean soldiers deployed in the UAE.
It likewise noted in a text sent to reporters on Tuesday that Yoons comments regarding Iran were unimportant to Seouls ties with Tehran.Yoons comment should not be necessarily over-interpreted, the ministry recommended, including that it was made in the context of supporting South Korean troops in the UAE.Seoul has a terrific dedication to advancing its cordial relations with Iran, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said.
Our country has actually long preserved cordial and cooperative connections with Iran because establishing diplomatic relations with it in 1962, and our willpower to continue broadening the friendly bilateral relations with Iran stays unfaltering, the ministry stated.The oversight was embarrassing for all sides, according to Kim Joon-hyung, the previous head of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy.
Neither the UAE nor Iran were pleased with Yoons words.
Both countries should discover this disgraceful, Kim added.Yoons very first international journey this year, according to the liberal opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), was a diplomatic disaster that provided the false impression that Seoul thought about Iran as a possible opponent.