Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, held phone talks Friday to discuss recent developments in the Middle East, focusing on vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Seoul's foreign ministry.

According to Yonhap News Agency, during the conversation, Cho welcomed the recent memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Washington and Tehran, aimed at resolving their ongoing conflict. He expressed hope for the agreement's effective implementation and progress in subsequent negotiations. Cho emphasized the necessity of ensuring free and safe passage of vessels through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi provided Cho with updates on the negotiations with Washington and outlined Iran's position on related matters. The discussion also covered pending bilateral issues, with both ministers agreeing to maintain close communication regarding the safety of vessels and crews, as well as the protection of their nationals.

This call was the fifth telephone exchange between the two ministers since the conflict began in late February due to U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. The conflict had led to a significant number of vessels, including 26 South Korean-linked ships, being stranded in the Persian Gulf as transit through the Strait of Hormuz faced severe restrictions.

However, 21 Korean vessels have successfully navigated the waterway recently, following Tehran's agreement to allow passage without fees for 60 days under the recent MOU with the United States. President Lee Jae Myung mentioned on social platform X that three more vessels are expected to transit the waterway over the weekend. Among the remaining ships, the HMM Namu is undergoing repairs after sustaining damage from Iranian-linked missile attacks last month.