“We’ve much-heard promises from South Korea. Now, we only wait for tangible, vital action,” Mousavi said in a message on his twitter account on July 29.

“In Flag of Iran, no one expects 500k- or 2m-dollar shipment. We hope the Flag of South Korea officials to remember abt amount of Iranian nation’s financial resources in Seoul & no legal obstacles against trade w/Iran,” he added referring to Iranian assets blocked by South Korea under the US illegal and unilateral sanctions.

The remarks come as South Korea’s Yonhap reported that a meeting will be held on July 29 between officials of the two countries aimed at “expanding humanitarian trade”. South Korea has already sent $0.5 million worth of medicine to Iran, Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported.

Iranian authorities have been pressing South Korea to release between $6.5 billion and $9 billion in frozen funds so that Tehran could use them for purchase of basic goods.

South Korea cites the US sanctions as an excuse for not releasing Iran’s money, Mousavi told a press briefing on July 16.

Two days later, Mousavi announced in an interview with the Tasnim News Agency that Tehran may lodge a complaint against South Korea in case Seoul refuses to pay off its oil debts after all diplomatic efforts.

“If diplomacy does not yield results and South Korea continues to obey the US’ policies, Iran will summon South Korea’s ambassador to Tehran and force Seoul to pay off its debts through international tribunals,” he added.

Mousavi stressed that the “master-servant relationship” between Washington and Seoul is an issue relating to them, but South Korea “must be sincere in the bargain with Iran and honor its commitments.”

Parliament Vice-Speaker Amir-Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi said it is a source of “regret and surprise” that the government of South Korea has blocked Iran’s oil money under the US pressure.

“The freezing of Iran’s assets by South Korea shows that this country does not adhere to any ethical and legal principles and violates the rights of a nation due to the pressure of a bullying government,” Hashemi said, referring to the United States.

Iranian authorities have been pressing South Korea to release between $6.5 billion and $9 billion in frozen funds so that Tehran could use them for the purchase of basic goods.

Hashemi slammed Seoul’s “rude” behavior and urged the Iranian Foreign Ministry to actively pursue the return of the oil money.

“We must do our utmost to free our assets, especially in South Korea, and spare no effort in doing so,” he said.

On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi said Tehran has already given an official warning to Seoul over the frozen assets.

South Korea cites the US sanctions as an excuse for not releasing Iran’s money, Mousavi told a press briefing.

However, he added, relations between South Korea and the US have nothing to do with Iran.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told a meeting with Iranian parliamentarians that countries like South Korea have not responded positively to Iran’s repeated requests for release of funds that have reportedly been blocked because of the US pressure.

“Some countries like Oman and China have acted positively on the return of these funds but South Korea has not taken any significant action in this regard,” said Zarif, according to remarks published by Iranian Parliament’s news service.

Zarif said the South Korean government claims it has “certain problems” in transferring the money it owes to Iran mainly because of the US sanctions.

“On the one hand, we are negotiating for the return of the blocked funds and on the other, there have been some proper legal actions,” said the top Iranian diplomat without elaborating on what legal path Iran has taken to secure the release of funds.

Business sources said last week that Seoul had agreed to allow Iran to use part of the funds for purchases of drugs and medical equipment.

Iran is struggling to return the funds frozen by foreign banks amid a shortage of hard currency in the country which has been contending with the coronavirus pandemic over the past months.

Press TV contributed to this story.