Viet Nam’s representative offices in Iran and the Republic of Korea (RoK) are willing to conduct necessary citizen protection measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese sailors on board a tanker of the RoK detained by Iran.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang 

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang made that statement in reply to a reporter’s inquiry about Iran’s detainment of the tanker Hankuk Chemi with 20 crewmembers, including two Vietnamese. 

Hang stated that upon receiving information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately contacted the embassies of the RoK and Iran in Ha Noi.

The Vietnamese representative offices in the RoK and Iran actively worked with relevant agencies of the host countries as well as the owner of the tanker to verify the information and seek assurance of the safety of the Vietnamese crewmembers and a quick settlement of the case.

The Foreign Ministry also contacted the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Transport Ministry to confirm the identity of the Vietnamese sailors on the tanker, and  request the companies sending the Vietnamese sailors to work abroad to ensure their legitimate rights and interests.

The Republic of Korea-flagged MT Hankuk Chemi was seized Monday by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz reportedly due to allegations of chemical pollution. 

Five RoK citizens, 11 Myanmarese, two Indonesians and two Vietnamese were on board when it was seized. The vessel was traveling from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates.