Seoul: Iran's top envoy to South Korea announced on Thursday that South Korean vessels can only transit the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz after coordinating with Tehran. This requirement comes amid Iran's request for Seoul to provide details of ships stranded in the waterway due to the ongoing conflict affecting the region.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Koozechi emphasized during a press conference that 26 South Korean ships, with approximately 180 crew members, remain stranded in the shipping lane. The blockage follows recent attacks by the United States and Israel, effectively leaving the vessels in limbo. Ambassador Koozechi stated that while Iran considers South Korea a non-adversarial nation, coordination with Iranian authorities is mandatory for the ships' passage.
Koozechi further explained that Tehran requested Seoul share detailed information about the stranded ships during a phone conversation between their foreign ministers on Monday. However, he did not confirm whether this request was intended to initiate negotiations for their transit. In response, Seoul's foreign ministry clarified that Iran's request was related to safety measures for a potential humanitarian situation on the ships, rather than their passage through the strait.
During the phone call, South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun urged Iran to de-escalate tensions and ensure safe navigation through the vital waterway, crucial for global energy supplies. Cho also sought Iran's cooperation for the safety of the stranded vessels and crew, though the topic of allowing their transit was reportedly not discussed.
Despite viewing South Korea as a friendly nation, Ambassador Koozechi noted that Iran's self-defense measures necessitate restricting activities of ships involved in business with U.S. companies. "Imposing restrictions on them is only natural," he remarked, asserting Iran's right to self-defense by blocking their operations and enforcing economic restrictions.
The press event on Thursday included a photo exhibition and documentary screening at the Iranian Embassy in Seoul, showcasing the consequences of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. The materials presented images of destroyed infrastructure and footage of children killed during an airstrike on an elementary school, along with their grieving families.