South Korean and Iranian Foreign Ministers Hold Phone Call Amid 'Hormuz Deployment Rumors' at Iran's Request

[Financial News] A phone call between the foreign ministers of South Korea and Iran took place unexpectedly while the South Korean government was embroiled in rumors regarding the deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz. The call between the two foreign ministers was made at the request of the Iranian side. Iran maintains a very hardline stance, stating that it would regard South Korea's consideration of deploying troops to the Strait of Hormuz as "direct aggression and participation in war" against Iran.
On the 11th, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi at the latter's request and discussed the recent situation in the Middle East, bilateral relations between Korea and Iran, and the protection of Korean nationals abroad. Minister Cho expressed deep concern over the recent situation in the Middle East and said he hoped for the restoration of sustainable peace and stability in the region.
Furthermore, Minister Cho conveyed that it is our consistent position that the free and safe passage of all vessels, including ours, within the Strait of Hormuz must be guaranteed. He emphasized that we have consistently participated in the international community's efforts to ensure free passage in the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition, he urged the Iranian side to pay attention to the safety of our overseas citizens.
Minister Araghchi explained Iran's position on the current situation in the Middle East, and the two ministers agreed to continue communicating on bilateral and multilateral occasions regarding the situation in the Middle East and pending issues in Korea-Iran relations.
However, when it became known that our government was considering various options for military contribution, such as deploying 'non-combat search and rescue units,' Iran drew a line, stating that it would view any military intervention in the Strait of Hormuz as a hostile act, regardless of the nature of the operation.
On the 7th, Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, posted an official statement written in Korean on social media (X) in an unusual move.
In the statement, Iran directly said that "dangerous choices come with a price" and strongly warned that proceeding with the troop deployment would not only destroy friendly relations between the two countries but also "lead to serious consequences." There are also concerns that if South Korea carries out the deployment, all South Korean assets in the Middle East would become targets of attack.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense fact-finding team directly involved in the troop deployment recently returned on the 10th after completing a trip to the Middle East. Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of National Defense maintain that the investigation was not conducted on the premise of actual deployment or for the purpose of preliminary preparation.
In addition, regarding reports that the United States requested the deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz with a deadline of this coming November, the government officially denied the claim, stating, "It is not true that a request with a set deadline was made." It was also reported that a deployment in November is impossible from a practical standpoint, as obtaining National Assembly approval and designating units takes at least three months. [email protected] Reporter Kim Kyung-soo



[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter