Iran, Which Seized a South Korean Ship, Demands "Compensation for Past Mistakes" from the U.S.

President Hassan Rouhani of Iran
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Iran, which has been pressuring the United States ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, including the seizure of a South Korean vessel and raising uranium enrichment levels, has now demanded that the US compensate for its "past mistakes."

According to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency on the 6th (local time), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated at a cabinet meeting that day, "We welcome any measures by the United States to adhere to the rule of law."

President Rouhani said, "If President-elect Biden compensates for past mistakes and leads the US to fully comply with the 2015 nuclear agreement, Iran would welcome it," adding, "if the (incoming US administration) fulfills all its promises, we will also fully comply with our commitments," but warned, "if not, we will never yield."

President Rouhani's tough remarks come at a time when Iran has been escalating pressure on the US by seizing a South Korean vessel, an ally of the US, and raising uranium enrichment levels to 20%. This series of actions is seen as an attempt to strengthen its negotiating position in the process of restoring the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), which is on the verge of collapse.

On the 4th, the Korean-flagged vessel 'Hanguk Chemi' being seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. On the right is the speedboat used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The photo shows CCTV footage at the time of seizure. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 4th, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the South Korean chemical tanker Korea Chem in the Gulf region (Persian Gulf) citing marine pollution as the reason. In response, the South Korean government has requested the prompt release of the vessel and crew and dispatched the Choi Young warship from the Cheonghae Unit to the nearby waters.

The JCPOA, signed in 2015, is considered one of the greatest achievements during former US President Barack Obama's administration. It primarily involves limiting Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting US sanctions on Iran. Subsequently, US-Iran relations improved significantly.

However, the succeeding US President Donald Trump criticized it as "Obama's diplomatic failure" and unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, reinstating most of the sanctions against Iran.

Since then, Iran has faced severe economic difficulties, including soaring prices and blocked oil exports due to US sanctions. The sanctions have even blocked transactions using the dollar, worsening Iran's predicament. Moreover, amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), US sanctions have made it difficult for Iran to purchase medicines and other essential goods.

President-elect Joe Biden [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

However, with President Trump's term ending after four years and Biden elected as the next president, the atmosphere has dramatically changed. President-elect Biden has stated that "if Iran strictly complies with the nuclear agreement first, the US will rejoin the JCPOA."

In response, President Rouhani also expressed willingness to improve relations with the US, saying, "We can restore bilateral relations to the state before the Trump administration."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.