Iran Press/ Iran News: South Korea owes Iran for gas condensate imports from the country but has so far refused to pay it. South Korea sees unilateral sanctions and the so-called US maximum pressure as an impediment to paying off its debt. The issue has been criticized multiple times by Iranian officials.
Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, in his weekly presser on Monday, in response to a question about South Korean authorities' repeated dishonesty in paying debts to Iran and the anti-Iranian remarks of the country's president and Iran's complaint in international bodies to fulfill the nation's rights, said: " Paying Iran's debts by South Korea is the legal right of the Iranian nation. The subject of these debts and the need to pay them is not related to any other issue or case, and the Korean government is committed and responsible to pay the legal rights of the Iranian people without any conditions within the framework of bilateral relations."
The spokesman stated: "Negotiations with the Korean government were conducted in different channels and levels and are still ongoing. Unfortunately, the Korean government's cooperation in this regard has not been satisfactory, and unfortunately, even in non-sanctioned cases, where the Korean government could take action and pay part of Iran's demands, it has not taken the appropriate and necessary action."
Kanaani noted: "The cooperation of the Korean government is not worthy and Iran's expectations remain serious, and we expect and it is the expectation of the Iranian government and people that the South Korean government fulfills its legal responsibilities and recognized obligations in this regard. Iran will use appropriate and necessary methods in accordance with the cooperation process of the South Korean government in this connection."
Iran doesn't have direct bilateral negotiations with US
Referring to the explanation of Iran's Mission in the United Nations about the news that there had been no meeting between Irani and Mali, Kanani said: "We do not have direct bilateral negotiations with the US administration."
In response to a question, the spokesman said that the US administration has had a long history of more than 40 years, as long as the life of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, of wrong, unconstructive and destructive policies in relation to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Iranian nation.
He added: "In the past long years, the actions of the American administration in this field were numerous and varied, and we witnessed the hostile behavior of the US administration against Iran in various areas, and many losses were inflicted on the Iranian government and people."
Kanaani went on to say that the nature of America's behavior towards the Iranian nation and government is hostile. The American administration has committed gross violations of human rights in the field of sanctions, and these sanctions are examples of crimes against humanity, and these have been recorded in the case of the behavior of the American administration against Iran. It depends on the US administration how long it will correct this behavior and is willing to change the conditions governing bilateral relations.
The diplomat about Iran's new steps to advance the sanctions-lifting negotiations noted: "The exchange of messages from different channels continues and remains strong. The nuclear issue is not just Iran's issue. As the spokesperson of the European Union announced, EU top diplomat Jossep Burrell is interacting with relevant parties, including the Iranian side and the American side, and the exchange of messages and views continue through this framework and through other communication frameworks that exist in different levels in diplomatic channels."
Kanaani stressed: "Not holding official meetings of negotiations does not mean not exchanging messages and views. In this context, Iran's positions and views are clear. The nuclear issue is an issue that, if Iran's interests are in it, the interests of other parties, including the American administration and the European members of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), are also in it, and it seems that all parties are interested in this issue."
"The process of pursuing the nuclear issue and lifting the cruel and unilateral sanctions against Iran is of interest to Iran in diplomatic frameworks. Other parties have shown that they are interested in the principle of the JCPOA and up until now they have insisted on maintaining it. We have to see to what extent we will face the practical action of the western members of JCPOA in maintaining the agreement and resuming its implementation and we will witness how they will have constructive cooperation."
Iran has fulfilled its obligations under JCPOA
Iran has been and will be committed to interaction and cooperation with the agency within the framework of JCPOA commitments. Communication with the secretary general of the agency continues and his trip to Tehran depends on the progress of the talks.
Meanwhile, Grossi is not responsible for commenting on the sanctions-lifting negotiations.
Europe should not inflict more costs on bilateral relations
The spokesman in his remarks added: "The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps is a sovereign body arising from the Islamic Republic's Constitution and based on the United Nations Charter and international law, sanctioning it is a clear violation of the Charter. The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps is a great defense force for national security and territorial integrity and the supporting force of the Iranian nation, since the establishment of this great institution has protected national security, border security, and the security of the Iranian nation with strength, and sacrifice, and in the field of providing regional security the IRGC's actions are very great and it is one of the IRGC's great services to the countries and nations of the region, and even Europe itself is indebted to the decisive struggle of the IRGC in the countries of the region in Syria and Iraq against the ISIS and Takfiri terrorist movement."
He said: "Any attack on the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps of any kind is an attack on Iran's national security, and its results will definitely be against the aggressor, and there is no doubt about this. Of course, the IRGC is a very great and powerful force, and no one can ignore this power and capability, but the clumsy action of the European Union is like the European Union wants to bind and limit the hands of a great anti-terrorist force while opening the hands of the terrorists. The wise European statesmen and women, other than immature and emotional statesmen and stateswomen, who are unfortunately in high positions of power and government in some European countries, must know this, but we would like to tell the public opinion of Europe from this platform that if there is security in Europe, which has already been attacked by ISIS and losses have been inflicted on European nations, the current security is owed to the IRGC's decisive fight against terrorist forces."
The spokesman stated: "Europe knows for sure that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not turn a blind eye to the uncalculated and ill-considered actions of the European countries, and Iran has the necessary strength and willpower to deal with it in this regard. Do not inflict more costs on bilateral relations. The European authorities must be aware that the Parliament has prepared its draft of the double-urgency resolution and will take legal action against the ill-considered action of the European Union, and it is better that the Union does not shoot itself in the foot."
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