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| ▲ Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Koozechi makes remarks during a press conference at the Iranian Embassy in Seoul on March 5, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Israeli Ambassador to South Korea Rafael Harpaz speaks during a press conference in Seoul on March 5, 2026. (Yonhap) |
Iran-Israel-US attack
Envoys of Iran, Israel hold separate press conferences in Seoul amid escalating war
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, March 5 (Yonhap) -- The top envoys of Iran and Israel held separate press conferences Thursday, with the United States and Israel attacking Iran, and Tehran hitting back amid an escalating war in the Middle East.
With the conflict showing signs of further spiraling, both Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Koozechi and Israeli Ambassador to South Korea Rafael Harpaz separately invited South Korean reporters earlier in the day.
Koozechi told reporters that Teheran hopes South Korea will play a more active role in helping stop the current conflict sparked by U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
"This is a crisis happening in the Middle East, a state of heightened tensions," Koozechi said through an interpreter.
"The Republic of Korea is a country with strong economic and business capabilities. Iran hopes that Seoul will play a more active role in helping stop the current conflict and clearly state its position," he said, referring to South Korea by its official name.
Koozechi was responding to a question about what he makes of the recent statement by South Korea's foreign ministry spokesperson. In the commentary issued earlier this week, Seoul voiced concern over the Middle East conflict and called for restoring dialogue to resolve the issue.
Park Il, the ministry spokesperson, also reaffirmed in the statement South Korea's commitment to the international nonproliferation regime as a country with a direct stake in North Korea's nuclear issue.
The statement drew criticism from some civic groups in Seoul, which called it a lukewarm response that appeared to justify the U.S. and Israel's actions as inevitable measures to address Iran's nuclear program.
"If any country condemns the aggressive actions of Israel and the United States, it should be understood as an effort to uphold the rules and laws of the international community," he said. "Remaining silent over this attack can only be interpreted as consent to the U.S. and Israel waging war against Iran."
"I don't think the spokesperson's statement was sufficient," he added.
Given the intensifying situation, Koozechi said Iran has no intention of returning to the negotiating table with the U.S. over its nuclear program, adding that the conflict could drag on for some time.
"Given that the U.S. military is using bases in Arab countries to launch attacks on Iran, we believe the conflict could last longer. Iran is prepared for that as well," he said.
In a statement released by the Iranian Embassy in Seoul, it strongly condemned the military action by the U.S. and Israel as a deliberate decision in which its nuclear issue has been used as a political pretext.
"The reckless military attacks by Israel and the U.S. constitute a clear betrayal of diplomacy," the embassy said, stressing that it is a "blatant violation" of the U.N. Charter.
"Iran's response is not revenge but legitimate self-defense, and we will continue until the aggression completely ends," it said.
In a separate press conference, Israeli Ambassador to South Korea Rafael Harpaz refuted Iran's argument, saying the U.S.-Israeli attacks were aimed at neutralizing nuclear weapons development and ballistic missile facilities in Iran.
"The goal of the operation, beyond dismantling the nuclear program and the ballistic missile program, is to create the conditions under which the Iranian people can take their destiny into their own hands and rid themselves of this tyranny they have suffered under for the last 47 years," Harpaz said.
Harpaz went on to recall the North Korean nuclear crisis in 1994, when a flurry of nuclear diplomacy unsuccessfully took place, resulting in Pyongyang's continued nuclear and missile development to the "point of no return."
"The decision back then was not to take action. And now we have North Korea with 40, 50, 60 nuclear warheads," he said.
"We acted against Iran precisely so that we will not find ourselves in the same situation 10 years from now -- to save the free world from this aggressive, radical regime," Harpaz said.
Harpaz said Israel greatly admires South Korea's efforts to evacuate its citizens in the Middle East, with his country included, saying that the Israeli authorities are working closely with Korea to provide protection.
"I think it is a role model for how countries should take care of their citizens," he added.
(END)
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