Iranian diplomat: ‘Many coffins would return to the US’ if it deploys ground forces

Ambassadors of Iran and Israel hold separate news conferences in South Korea’s capital, trading sharp accusations as their countries continue an escalating war in the Middle East.

Speaking through an interpreter, Iran’s Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Koozechi demands Seoul — a key US ally — be more vocal in demanding a halt to what he calls an illegal aggression by US and Israeli forces, which launched attacks amid active nuclear negotiations.

He says “many coffins would return to the United States” if it decides to deploy ground forces, and defends Iranian strikes on Gulf states hosting US military bases as unavoidable.

The Israeli ambassador in Seoul, Raphael Harpaz, says the joint US-Israeli military operations aim both to destroy Iran’s nuclear development facilities and ballistic missile sites, and to help free the Iranian people from oppression.

South Korea has supported US-led diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions but has not explicitly endorsed the US-Israeli attacks, instead calling for a swift restoration of dialogue.