Iran Says It Values Friendly Ties With South Korea, Warns of ‘Serious Consequences’ If It Deploys Forces to Strait of Hormuz

Iran has warned South Korea that any military presence or operation in the Strait of Hormuz could bring “serious consequences,” even as Tehran said it places great value on its long-standing friendship with Seoul.

Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, issued the warning in Korean on X on the 7th. “The relationship between Iran and the Republic of Korea has a history of more than 64 years, and relations between the two countries have always developed on the basis of mutual respect,” he wrote. “Iran attaches great importance to friendly relations with South Korea.”

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The relationship between Iran and the Republic of Korea has a history of more than 64 years, and relations between the two countries have always developed on the basis of mutual respect.

Baghaei then connected the warning directly to Seoul’s consideration of a deployment to the strategic waterway. He said the Iranian people were defending themselves against what he called US “aggressive actions” and responding firmly to US war crimes against women and children. “In this situation, any other country’s military presence or participation in operations in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz can only be regarded as directly supporting the party to the act of aggression,” he said. “This will lead to serious consequences.”

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Iran attaches great importance to friendly relations with South Korea.

He also called on sovereign and responsible countries not to give in to US pressure and threats or associate themselves with attacks and what he described as “terrible crimes” against the Iranian people.

The statement came as President Donald Trump has pressed South Korea since last month to deploy forces to the Strait of Hormuz. A senior US administration official said on the 4th that Washington was still waiting for Seoul to deploy resources to the region, describing South Korea as one of the biggest customers for Middle Eastern crude oil. Trump had earlier said in a Fox News interview that South Korea had received US help but did not help during the war with Iran, adding that he would “remember it.”

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In this situation, any other country’s military presence or participation in operations in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz can only be regarded as directly supporting the party to the act of aggression.

South Korea’s presidential office publicly acknowledged on the 4th that the government was considering a deployment. Officials said a “practical contribution” could include military support, but stressed that military options ranged from combat participation to noncombat missions and search operations. An unnamed senior Iranian security and political official separately told Al Mayadeen on the 5th that military action against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz would be considered military participation in aggression, effectively warning that joining the US side would be treated as entering the war.

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This will lead to serious consequences.