SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Iran's ambassador to South Korea emphasized the enduring friendship between Tehran and Seoul and expressed hopes for deeper cooperation as the two countries look ahead, speaking at a reception marking the 47th anniversary of Iran's Islamic Revolution in Seoul on Tuesday.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in South Korea hosted the event at the Shilla Hotel in central Seoul, attended by about 300 guests from diplomatic, academic and business circles.
"In the field of bilateral relations, Iran and Korea share deep ties grounded in a long history and longstanding friendship, which provide an important foundation for the two countries to envision a brighter future together," Ambassador Saeed Koozechi said in commemorative remarks.
Marking the 63rd anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, Koozechi acknowledged challenges affecting economic engagement while pointing to continued diplomatic dialogue.
"Although the unjust and unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States have placed a heavy burden on our economic cooperation, the two rounds of policy consultations held between our Foreign Ministries in 2025 clearly demonstrate both sides' commitment to preserving and further strengthening our bilateral ties," he said.
The ambassador also pointed to Iran's development trajectory in science and industry.
"In the field of science and technology, Iran's capacity for knowledge production has continued to grow, marked by significant achievements in advanced technologies and healthcare, as well as the expansion of knowledge-based enterprises," he said, adding that progress has continued "despite unjust sanctions and a challenging international environment."
On foreign policy, he described Iran as pursuing "dynamic diplomatic engagement and strategic cooperation based on a balanced approach," supporting dialogue and multilateral cooperation.
Iran and South Korea have maintained diplomatic engagement across political and economic constraints, including periods shaped by Western sanctions on Tehran. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Seoul moved to facilitate humanitarian trade channels and medical support mechanisms, including medicine shipments, medical equipment exports and vaccine-related cooperation conducted under sanctions-exempt frameworks.
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