Iranian Ambassador to Korea Saeed Koozechi strongly urged the international community to step up efforts to prevent an envisaged ground operation by Israel in the Gaza Strip. During a recent interview with The Korea Times at the Iranian Embassy in Seoul, Koozechi emphasized that Iran's commitment to safeguarding civilians is an essential part of resolving any conflict. "Up to this point in the conflict, during the attacks of the Zionist regime against Gaza, there have been more than 3,500 Palestinian casualties, with one-third of them being women and children," Koozechi said. “The raid on the oldest Christian hospital in Gaza, with more than 500 casualties, including women and children has been a shock to public opinion around the world." The ambassador also called on Korea to utilize its diplomatic ties with the United States to help reduce tensions in the region. "Korea should leverage its alliances and make concerted efforts to persuade the United States to take action in order to halt Israel's attacks and prevent the suffering of innocent civilians," he said. "If the Korean government continues to prioritize the well-being of civilians, it can exert significant influence in providing assistance and support to those affected in the Gaza Strip." In addition, Koozechi stressed the importance of a potential prisoner exchange between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel, highlighting the urgent requirement for international intervention to facilitate peace negotiations. The ambassador said Hamas is the legitimate government in Gaza through legislative elections and is engaged in what it considers to be a resistance movement to protect its territory. "More than 3o years have passed since the Oslo Accords. The late Yaser Arafat was deceived by U.S and Israel and signed this agreement hoping to form an independent Palestinian State," he added. "Now, all Palestinians and Palestinian authorities admit that this agreement contained no achievement for Palestinians and they believe that struggle is the only way to free the Palestine Land." He pointed out that some Palestinians have become disillusioned with the prospect of achieving Palestinian liberation through peaceful means, leading them to declare war in pursuit of their rights. The interview also explored the harsh living conditions in the Gaza Strip, an area of approximately 360 square kilometers with a significant population and an alarming 80 percent youth unemployment rate, as highlighted by the ambassador. The ambassador described the Gaza Strip as "the world's largest open-air prison surrounded by Israel from every side.” He rejected claims that Iran supplied arms to Hamas, stating that the weapons used are "typically simple and produced locally." Release of frozen funds Additionally, the ambassador expressed gratitude to the Korean government for its recent decision to release approximately $6 billion (8.1 trillion won) in Iranian funds, but said that challenges remain before bilateral relations can be fully restored. The funds, including money from Iranian oil sales to Korea, had been frozen at the Bank of Korea, the Industrial Bank of Korea and Woori Bank since 2018 to comply with U.S.-led sanctions on Iran. Seoul released the funds following an agreement between Tehran and Washington in August to free five American citizens imprisoned in Iran. The ambassador stressed that significant challenges persist between the two sides, given the substantial losses Iran has incurred. "When Iran attempts to convert these funds into Korean won, it reportedly incurs losses ranging from 15 to 20 percent, exacerbated further by inflation," he added. He also said that the Irainan government has been under growing pressure from its politicians and members of parliament to ramp up efforts to recoup interest and foreign exchange losses caused by the Korean government freezing the Iranian assets. In September, Iran's central bank chief Mohammad Reza Farzin indicated that Tehran eyes collecting interest from the Korean lenders over the previously frozen funds. Also, an unnamed Iranian government official told Yonhap News Agency that "these financial institutions have earned unfair interest income with illegal sanctions by the U.S." The financial dispute has cast a significant shadow over bilateral relations, making a resolution necessary for a step forward. "Prior to the imposition of sanctions on Iran by the Trump administration, Korea and Iran enjoyed a positive relationship. Iran played a significant role in Korea in various regional aspects. The goal is to return to this earlier era of amicable economic cooperation," the ambassador said. He indicated that Korean companies have high expectations of expanding exports to Iran, but express apprehension regarding potential secondary sanctions from the U.S., which have created uncertainties. "Iran holds some of the world’s largest hydrocarbon reserves such as gas and crude oil. And Korean products enjoy considerable popularity in Iran, with the Iranian people holding a favorable view of them," he said. ********************