Iran urges South Korea to behave ‘rationally’ over seized tanker

  “As it has been previously declared, the problem with the Korean ship is purely technical, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, like all countries, is fully sensitive to protecting and safeguarding the marine environment and deals with violations in accordance with the law,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters on Tuesday.“The South Korean government’s behavior in this regard is incomprehensible and rejected. We urge the Korean government to deal rationally and responsibly with this technical issue,” he added.On Monday, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’s Navy said the South Korean-flagged MT Hankuk Chemi tanker had been impounded upon a request by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization and a verdict by the prosecutor office of Hormozgan province. Carrying 20 crew members, the ship was sailing through the Strait of Hormuz when it was intercepted for causing water pollution. It was headed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after loading 7,200 tons of oil chemical products in Saudi Arabia. After the seizure, Seoul ordered its naval destroyer ROKS Choi Young to move near the Strait of Hormuz. In a report submitted to the National Assembly on Wednesday, the South Korean Foreign Ministry announced that it was preparing to take legal action against the tanker seizure. Separately, presidential spokesperson Kang Min-seok said the government was taking the issue gravely while discussing coordinated measures through meetings involving the National Security Office, National Intelligence Service and ministries. South Korea’s National Security Council also discussed possible responses at a working-level meeting on Tuesday. A day earlier, South Korea Foreign Ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam said his country would dispatch a delegation to Iran soon to resolve the tanker situation “through bilateral negotiations.” He also noted that South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun will go ahead with a previously planned three-day trip to Tehran early next week.