TEHRAN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the South Korea's ambassador to protest a recent decision by Samsung Electronics to withhold the smartphone gifts to Iranian athletes participating in the Winter Olympic Games in South Korea.

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said such decision under the pretext of the existing UN sanctions mandates is "immoral."

On Wednesday, it was announced that Samsung, as the sponsor of the 2018 PyeongChang Games, refused to give the gifts Galaxy Note 8 smartphones to Iranian and DPRK athletes.

Iran strongly protested this "immoral behavior that runs counter to the spirit of the Olympic Games which set their slogan devoid of race, color, religion or politics," Qasemi said.

Iran has demanded an apology from Samsung for "such an unwise measure," or it would "seriously affect" Iran's trade ties with the company, he said.