South Korea firms keen to enter Iran market: Park

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has underlined the willingness of her country’s companies to enter the Iranian market.

In a Saturday meeting with Tehran’s new Ambassador to Seoul Hassan Taherian, in which he submitted his credentials, Park said South Korean firms are interested in working at the Iranian market.

She added that Seoul is carefully monitoring the process of nuclear talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China – plus Germany.

The South Korean president expressed hope that the nuclear negotiations would achieve a favorable result.

She also pointed to the amiable relations between Iran and South Korea and expressed optimism that the ties will witness further growth.

Taherian, for his part, hailed the satisfactory level of bilateral ties and noted that all grounds are prepared for further enhancement of relations.

In January, the Korean news website, Chosun Ilbo, reported that South Korean companies are preparing to return to Iran’s market given a partial relief in the US-led sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

According to the website, South Korea was Iran’s fourth trade partner until 2012, when the United States ratcheted up sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear energy program.