Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun informed his Iranian counterpart that South Korea has not yet decided on deploying military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, officials reported. This announcement comes amid speculation about Seoul's potential role in securing this strategic waterway.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho made these remarks during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. The discussion took place as South Korea considers its options in response to U.S. pressure to contribute to securing the strait, while Iran remains strongly opposed to any foreign military involvement.
During the talks, Cho expressed deep concern over the unfolding situation in the Middle East and voiced hope for the restoration of sustainable peace and stability in the region. He emphasized South Korea's consistent stance that free and safe passage for all vessels in the Strait of Hormuz must be guaranteed. Cho reiterated South Korea's commitment to participating in international efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway.
"Cho conveyed our position that no decision has been made regarding a possible deployment and stressed the importance of restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible," a ministry official stated. The ministers also discussed their respective positions on issues related to the Middle East situation.
Cho further requested that Iran pay close attention to the safety of South Korean nationals in the region. Araghchi explained Iran's perspective on the current Middle Eastern situation, and both ministers agreed to maintain communication on regional developments and bilateral issues.
This conversation marked the sixth known phone discussion between the two ministers since the onset of the U.S.-Iran conflict in late February. In a Telegram post, Araghchi mentioned having a phone call with Cho to "discuss and exchange views on the latest regional developments."