<Anchor> The
Iranian government has announced that it will receive 1 billion dollars of frozen funds in Korea and about 1.1 trillion won in Korean money first.
However, the Korean government showed a reserved position, saying it is a matter to discuss with the United States.
Reporter Han Se-hyun reports.
<Reporter>
Iranian government spokesman Ali Ravieri said, "Korea has agreed to release Iranian assets that have been frozen by US sanctions."
Bloomberg and Sputnik said a spokesman for Ravie said "it looks like it will get a billion dollars back first."
The specific amount of funding came out a day after the President of Iran's Central Bank Abdolnaser Hemmati met with Ambassador Yoo Jung-hyun and agreed on how to use frozen assets in Korea.
The Iranian Central Bank's funds bound in Korea due to US sanctions amounted to 7 billion dollars, or about 7.6 trillion won.
The freeze release method is predominant through the Swiss trade channel.
If South Korea sends the money to the Iranian Central Bank account at a Swiss bank, Iran uses this money to buy medical supplies and groceries from Swiss companies.
However, in order to lift the freeze in this manner, the approval of the U.S., which put Iran's central bank on the sanction list in 2018, is essential.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that there is no specific amount, such as $1 billion, mentioned by Iran, and that it is discussing related matters with the United States.
Earlier, on the 4th of last month, Iran captured a Korean chemical carrier in the waters near Oman and released the rest of the personnel except for the captain.