South Korean Delegation To Visit US For Talks On Iran Oil Sanctions - Reports

A South Korean delegation will head to the United States this week for follow-up talks on Washington's decision to end sanctions waivers for Seoul and seven other Iranian oil importers, local media reported on Tuesday, citing an official

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd April, 2019) A South Korean delegation will head to the United States this week for follow-up talks on Washington's decision to end sanctions waivers for Seoul and seven other Iranian oil importers, local media reported on Tuesday, citing an official.

US President Donald Trump decided on Monday to deny China, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey extensions to the Iranian oil sanctions waivers granted to them in November.

South Korean Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs for the Foreign Ministry Yun Kang-hyeon will lead the delegation, which is expected to meet with US officials in Washington to discuss the decision and seek further clarifications on the matter, the Yonhap news agency reported

"Our goal is to seek consultation. That's what we are trying to do," an official from the South Korean Foreign Ministry said, as quoted by the media outlet.

Yun visited Washington in late March and early April to consult with the US State Department's special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, and US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis Fannon regarding the possibility of extending Seoul's waiver.

South Korea is a major buyer of Iran's condensate, a super light form of crude oil used by the Asian country's large petrochemical industry, whose products have a major place in South Korea's exports.

Washington wants all importers of Iranian oil to eventually cut their purchases to zero as part of maximum sanctions pressure on the Islamic republic, triggered by the US decision to unilaterally leave the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.