South Korea has not decided whether to deploy military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
Cho conveyed Seoul’s position during a phone call on Friday with Araghchi, stressing the importance of restoring freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway as soon as possible, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said, according to Yonhap News.
The two ministers discussed the situation in the Middle East, including the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, as Seoul faces US pressure to join military operations against Iran.
Cho expressed “deep concern” over the regional situation and called for the restoration of sustainable peace and stability.
South Korea has consistently maintained that the free and safe passage of all vessels through Hormuz must be guaranteed, he said.
Tehran, Washington pressure on Seoul
The call came after Tehran warned Seoul against joining US military operations against Iran.
South Korea has issued several statements in recent days saying it has not made a decision on deploying forces to Hormuz.
Cho and Araghchi have spoken six times since the war began.
South Korea is a treaty ally of the US and hosts about 39,000 American troops on the Korean Peninsula, according to US President Donald Trump.
Seoul is also facing growing calls from Washington to provide Ukraine with its domestically developed Patriot-equivalent missile interceptors, according to the JoongAng Daily.
Ukraine has been at war with Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale offensive in 2022.
