"Humanitarian Aid to Iran Will Continue"... Not Linked to 26 South Korean Ships Stranded Near Hormuz

According to The Financial News, the government stated that its Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects for the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is at war with the United States and Israel, will continue. However, it made clear that these humanitarian aid programs will not be tied to the fate of the 26 South Korean ships that have been stranded for five weeks in the Strait of Hormuz.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea told reporters on the 6th, "The government is carrying out various humanitarian assistance projects in the Iranian region. Through multilateral organizations, we are continuing ODA projects, and this support will continue going forward." The official added that such humanitarian assistance is unrelated to the resumption of voyages by the ships stranded near the Strait of Hormuz.
Cheong Wa Dae, also known as the Blue House, also commented that with the Strait of Hormuz effectively blocked and South Korean-flagged vessels brought to a standstill, "No plan has been considered to link the provision of relief supplies with the passage of ships."
In a notice to the press, Cheong Wa Dae addressed reports that President Lee Jae Myung had ordered officials to "consider options such as providing humanitarian aid to Iran in order to bring back the 26 South Korean-flagged ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz." It stated, "The above article is not consistent with the facts," firmly denying the report.
The government has long carried out a range of humanitarian assistance projects in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Over the years, South Korea's contributions to supporting Afghan refugees inside Iran are reported to total tens of millions of dollars.
It has also implemented a variety of humanitarian initiatives in the Iranian region, including support programs in the education sector. In South Korea's ODA portfolio for Iran, humanitarian assistance accounts for more than 80 percent, a relatively high share.

rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter