Iran warns of ‘serious consequences’ as South Korea weighs Strait of Hormuz deployment

Iran has issued a warning directly in Korean to South Korea: sending military personnel to the Strait of Hormuz would “lead to serious consequences.” The message came as Seoul considers a military contribution to efforts in the strait amid pressure from Washington.

Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said in a post on X that the Iranian people were defending themselves from what he called U.S. aggression and responding to American war crimes against women and children. He warned that any country participating in operations or maintaining an active military presence in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz would be viewed as directly supporting the aggressor.

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If any other party either participates in operations or has an active military presence in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, we have no choice but to interpret that as direct support for the aggressor, which will lead to serious consequences.

“No country with sovereignty or responsibility should succumb to US pressure and become accomplices in the US’ aggressions and horrific acts of crimes against the great people of Iran,” Baqaei wrote. He also stressed Iran’s ties with South Korea, saying the relationship spans more than 64 years and has developed on the basis of mutual respect.

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No country with sovereignty or responsibility should succumb to US pressure and become accomplices in the US’ aggressions and horrific acts of crimes against the great people of Iran.

The statement was written entirely in Korean, an unusual choice for an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Baqaei has nevertheless frequently posted in the language of the country he wants to reach. The accompanying image showed a military vessel sailing through a strait alongside the Korean phrase, “Risky choices come with consequences.”

The warning followed comments by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who said he hoped military assets from outside the region would enter the Strait of Hormuz soon. A Lebanese media outlet also quoted a senior Iranian political and security official as warning Korea not to respond to American pressure, saying involvement in U.S. military operations would amount to direct participation in the war against Iran.

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Any involvement in US military operations is direct participation in the military war on Iran.