1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun had a telephone conversation with Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs of Iran Seyyed Abbas Araghchi for around 30 minutes from 6:50 pm, February 2, for an early release of the Korean-flagged vessel Hankuk Chemi and its crew that have been in detention for nearly a month.

° Deputy Minister Araghchi informed Vice Minister Choi of the Iranian government’s decision to release all the sailors, aside from the captain.

2. Vice Minister Choi welcomed the Iranian government’s decision, but urged the Iranian government to make full efforts for a prompt release of the captain and the vessel as well.

° Deputy Minister Araghchi said humanitarian treatment and sufficient consular assistance for the captain would be assured while the judicial process continues. The two sides agreed to continue mutual communication in order to resolve the current situation as soon as possible.

3. The Korean government has made every effort, including actively providing substantial consular support while regularly communicating and sharing the situation with the ship owner and the families of the detained sailors. The Korean government will continue to make its utmost efforts including continuing consultations with the Iranian side until the captain and the ship are released.

° Considering the need to maintain and manage the vessel and the cargo, the Korean government is also consulting with the ship owner regarding the transport of the released sailors, including their handover and return to Korea.

4. During the phone conversation, the Korean and Iranian sides noted that the governments of the two countries have taken a significant first step in restoring trust between Korea and Iran, and agreed to continue with restoring the traditional friendly relationship in which mutual help is provided in difficult times, by resolving the issue of Iranian funds frozen in Korea.

° With regard to the frozen Iranian funds, Vice Minister Choi explained to the Iranian side that the Korean government would consult with the U.S. government in a transparent manner on issues that require consultations with the U.S side, while pursuing speedy progress in areas that can be resolved independently.

° The two sides agreed to continue close communication between the diplomatic authorities to make substantive progress on this issue.