"The Korean Embassy Is One of the Few Left in Tehran"...Cho Hyun Signals Possible Talks with Iran on Hormuz

[The Financial News] Foreign Minister Cho Hyun did not rule out the possibility of resolving the issue of Korean vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz through direct talks with the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran). He also agreed with the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea that direct consultations with the Iranian government are needed to move the 26 Korean ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.
Appearing before the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea on the 17th, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said, "The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the few embassies still remaining in Tehran," stressing that Iran is not hostile toward Korea. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making efforts, noting that "the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Korea last week."
He went on to say, "I met with the Iranian Foreign Minister last year at the United Nations," but added, "However, it is difficult to confirm whether we have had specific discussions with Iran since then on passage through the Strait of Hormuz." The Iranian Foreign Minister has previously stated that passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be allowed for ships other than those from Israel and the United States of America (US).
According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), 26 Korean vessels are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, including nine oil tankers. A total of 183 Korean crew members are reported to be on board these ships.

rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter