Iran-S Korea ties should be ‘free of US effect’

TEHRAN, May 03 (MNA) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution has said Iran’s official line of foreign policy favors a pro-East Asian tilting. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei received South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday evening. Ms. Park heads a delegation of her country during a visit to Iran which had been labeled ‘historic,’ since it is the first South Korean president ever visiting the country since 1962. Ayatollah Khamenei told the meeting that Iran’s official line of policy had prioritized relations with Eastern Asia, especially South Korea with which Iran has long and positive relations during the diplomatic history; “regular contacts and exchanges would secure interests of both countries; agreements and deals should be planned in a way to avoid the negative effects of foreign tariff systems and sanctions; more importantly, Iran-South Korea relations should not be under the impact of the US and its interventions to undermine bilateral trade,” he added. “Based on our grand scheme of foreign policy, ties with South Korea, an advanced nation, would provide our interests in far better way,” told the Leader to the meeting where Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani also participated. He criticized the US double-standard of dividing terrorism to bad and good terrorism; “this is very dangerous policy, since it would not contribute to stability and security of any country,” he emphasized. “Despite the fluctuations in bilateral ties, now South Korean government has excellent capacities to work with Iran thank to its young population of university graduates and this improves prospect of more profitable relations for both sides,” the Leader asserted. Park Geun-hye, for her part, dubbed her Tehran visit a valuable opportunity to develop relations and to restore bilateral trust; “during sanctions, South Korea waged efforts to keep its relations with Iran; Iran enjoys excellent geographical position and ample natural and human resources and we hope for better ties in the near future,” she told the meeting. “We also believe in reshuffling of economic, industrial, and scientific ties; South Korea welcomes working with Iran in biotechnology, science and economy, and believe that economic development will bring a better future for your country,” she confirmed Leader’s remarks on economic development.