[Financial News] Amid speculation about a deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has been holding a series of contacts with the foreign ministers of the United States and Iran. Cho has also made the unusual move of meeting three former commanders of United States Forces Korea who visited South Korea as speculation mounted that a deployment could be imminent. According to diplomatic sources on the 15th, Cho Hyun is expected to hold talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on the 18th local time. The two ministers’ first formal bilateral meeting in about seven months will follow their talks in Washington last February. South Korea and the United States are expected to hold follow-up negotiations on security issues, including nuclear-powered submarines, during the foreign ministers’ meeting. However, with speculation recently emerging that South Korea’s military could be deployed to the Strait of Hormuz, some analysts believe the two countries may also hold additional discussions behind closed doors. The issue of a deployment to the Strait of Hormuz is reportedly expected to be placed on the agenda of the National Security Council (NSC) meeting scheduled for the 17th, ahead of Cho’s visit to the United States. Cho may also convey to the U.S. side information about the situation, including Iran’s recent warning to South Korea opposing the deployment. Earlier, Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, issued a strong warning to the South Korean government in a Korean-language statement posted on social media platform X on the 7th local time. He wrote, “Any military presence or participation in operations by another country in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz can only be regarded as direct support for the party responsible for the aggression and will inevitably lead to serious consequences.” Four days after receiving Iran’s warning, Cho held a phone call on the 11th at the request of Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. Cho also held a private meeting on the 14th with three former commanders of United States Forces Korea who had made an unusual visit to South Korea. The previous day, Cho received former USFK commanders Robert B. Abrams, Burwell B. Bell III, and Paul J. LaCamera at the Foreign Ministry building. General Bell served as commander from 2006 to 2008, General Abrams from 2018 to 2021, and General LaCamera from 2021 to 2024. They visited South Korea to attend the 2026 Korea-U.S. Combined Warfighting Forum, scheduled for the 16th. The Foreign Ministry has said the meeting was held behind closed doors and has not disclosed the main points of the discussion, further fueling speculation. Some observers believe the talks may also have covered a possible deployment. [email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter