Islamic Republic of Iran requests information on Korean ships in Strait of Hormuz, while Korean Foreign Ministry remains cautious

The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has reportedly asked for information on 26 Korean vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Korean government has taken a very cautious stance on providing ship information, raising questions.
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Korea held an emergency press conference on the 26th and stated that Seyed Abbas Araghchi, foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, formally requested a list of Korean vessels and detailed information on each ship during a phone call with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun of the Republic of Korea on the 23rd.
After reviewing the ship information, Tehran intends to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to allow Korean vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the National Assembly also met with Saeed Koozechi on the 25th and called for the safe movement of Korean ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, however, is being extremely cautious about providing information on Korean vessels. An official from the ministry said, "We have not received any request for a list." The official added, "Issues surrounding the Strait of Hormuz are intertwined with future developments, trends in United States–Iran relations, the positions of relevant countries, and discussions in the international community, including the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The government will closely examine all these factors and do its utmost to ensure the safety of our ships and crew."
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of Korea said that the Republic of Korea is not on the list of countries whose vessels are barred from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. In relation to the navigation of Korean ships in the Strait of Hormuz, it explained that Korea is regarded as a non-hostile country. However, it stressed that ships can pass through the Strait of Hormuz only after consultation with the Iranian government.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea official responded, "We are not aware of any such list." Around 180 Korean crew members are reportedly on board the 26 vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
Kim Kyung-soo, fnnews (rainman@fnnews.com)