South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Cho Hyung-don held separate telephone conversations with US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley and European Union mediator in Vienna Enrique Mora to share the latest progress in talks to restart the nuclear deal.

During the telephone conversations, Dong stressed, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, “Seoul’s support for the restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” and expressed hope that “the agreement will help resolve South Korea’s unresolved issues related to Iran.” .”

Bilateral relations between Seoul and Tehran remain strained over $7 billion in Iranian funds held in two Korean banks as part of US sanctions that were reintroduced after former US President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal in 2018. Tehran has long been urging Seoul to hand over the money.