Tehran to prioritize evacuation of Koreans, envoy says

Iran’s Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Koozechi, center, heads to a meeting room to talk with Rep. Kim Seok-ki, chair of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Tehran will prioritize helping Korean nationals leave Iran safely if they want, Iran’s Ambassador to Korea Saeed Koozechi said Wednesday.

“We consider Korean nationals in Iran to be our guests, so if they want to leave, we will give them the highest priority to move to safe places,” the Iranian ambassador said during a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly, according to Rep. Kim Seok-ki, chair of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.

Kim briefed reporters on the hourlong meeting, which was also attended by Rep. Kim Young-bae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Rep. Kim Gunn of the main opposition People Power Party, both executive secretaries of the committee.

Koozechi explained that Iran has “taken proactive steps on evacuation from the early stages of the war,” according to Kim.

According to the foreign ministry, some 40 Korean nationals, most of whom are believed to have long-established livelihoods in Iran, remain in the country. Another 30 Korean nationals have left Iran through two rounds of evacuation after the United States and Israel began their joint strikes on Feb. 28.

Kim said he expressed gratitude for Tehran’s cooperation on evacuation measures and stressed that 26 Korean vessels are currently in or near the Strait of Hormuz and around 13,000 Korean nationals are in nearby Gulf states. He called on Iran to do its diplomatic efforts to end the war quickly. The lawmakers at the meeting also voiced concern that the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is having a serious effect on Korea’s economy.

In response, the Iranian ambassador said, “We would appreciate it if Korea and the international community could work together to bring peace to the Middle East.”

Regarding the news that Iran agreed with a 15-point plan reportedly delivered by the U.S. for discussion to end the war, the Iranian ambassador said “That is fake” according to Kim.

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed “very good and productive” conversations had led to progress over the previous two days, which Iran's parliamentary speaker branded as “fake news.”

When asked whether Trump’s call for Korea to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz was discussed during the meeting, Kim said there was “no specific discussion” on the matter. Trump has openly urged Korea and several other countries to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure the passage.