Ties to Seoul Depend on Opposing Sanctions

A senior lawmaker called on South Korea not to abide by the US sanctions imposed on Iran, saying continued friendly relations with that country could be jeopardized if Seoul backs the illegal sanctions. “The US has tested this policy [of pressuring Iran with sanctions] several times and has failed,” Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said in a meeting with South Korean Ambassador to Tehran Jeong-Hyun Ryu on Monday, Fars News Agency reported. “In the current conditions, friendly bilateral ties in different fields depend on the South Korean government’s decision to accept or oppose the unilateral and unfair US sanctions against Iran,” he added. Jeong-Hyun underscored his country’s willingness to continue cooperation with Iran in different arenas despite problems created by the US on the way of Korean firms. “Despite good relations with the US, South Korea has an independent policy and does not allow any country to interfere in its internal affairs, especially in relations with other countries,” he said.