A donation of a million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 on Oct. 27 arrived at Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport in the Iranian capital. Korean Ambassador to Iran Yun Kang-hyeon (second from right) exchanges a handshake with Iranian officials in front of the Emirates Airlines plane that carried the vaccines. (Yonhap News)

By Sarah Oqelee and Yoon Sojung

One million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 donated by Korea arrived on Oct. 27 at Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, Iran, at 5 p.m. on an Emirates Airlines flight. 

Korean Ambassador to Iran Yun Kang-hyeon said he was happy to deliver the vaccines to Iran "from the united hearts of the Korean people."

Dr. Jalal Naeli, deputy director-general for international cooperation at the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said "We thank Korea for providing the vaccines," adding, "As Korea and Iran are close culturally and economically, we hope for more cooperation.”

Staff from the Korean Embassy in Tehran and Iranian government officials observed the unloading of the vaccines. Embassy workers even unfolded a placard saying "From the Korean people."

The embassy on its official Twitter account said, "We hope that this aid is an opportunity to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation between both countries that has 60 years of history."

Earlier on Oct. 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul said in a news release, "With the spread of COVID-19, we donate one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Iran, which faces a serious humanitarian crisis due to problematic vaccine supply."

"As a symbol of the 60-year friendship between the two countries, these vaccines will be delivered to the Iranian people."

The ministry added, "As a responsible member of the international community, the Korean government is participating in efforts around the world to respond to COVID-19 by donating vaccines to countries struggling to secure them."

Earlier on Oct. 13, Seoul donated 1.1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Vietnam and 470,000 to Thailand.

sarahoqelee@korea.kr