South Korea Sees Promising Future for 2-Way Ties

South Korea's Ambassador to Iran Kim Seung-ho called for expansion of trade relations between Seoul and Tehran. "Iran is a major supplier of crude oil to South Korea and without Iran's oil, the Korean economy will be shaky," Kim said on Saturday, Fars News Agency reported. The envoy said under the new South Korean President Moon Jae-in, there would be no changes in trade policy concerning Iran, noting, "Our mutual cooperation will be promising in the new government."

"Our strategy for development of ties with Iran is based on restoration of trade relations, which fell to less than one-third by the unilateral sanctions against Iran by the West," Kim added, referring to the bans on Iran over its nuclear activities which were lifted under the 2015 nuclear accord with major powers. Iran ranked as South Korea's second-biggest oil exporter over the first three months of 2017.