Iran warns South Korea against joining Strait of Hormuz operations or facing serious consequences

Iran has issued a direct warning to South Korea as Seoul weighs whether to contribute military assets to efforts aimed at securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Any military involvement by South Korea, Tehran said, would bring “serious consequences.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei delivered the message in Korean on X. He first emphasized the more than 64-year relationship between Iran and South Korea, describing it as based on mutual respect and benefit and saying Iran highly valued its friendly ties with the Republic of Korea.

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It is clear that, under the current circumstances, any participation in an operation or military presence by another country in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz would mean direct support for the aggressor and would bring serious consequences.

But Baghaei then drew a clear line over military operations in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. “It is clear that, under the current circumstances, any participation in an operation or military presence by another country in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz would mean direct support for the aggressor and would bring serious consequences,” he said.

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No sovereign and responsible country should give in to pressure and blackmail to participate in aggression against Iran.

He added that “no sovereign and responsible country” should give in to what he called US “pressure and blackmail” to participate in aggression against Iran. The warning followed a statement from South Korea’s presidential office the previous week that Seoul was considering military and non-military options, without having reached a decision.

The options reportedly under consideration include deploying a maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics ship or a mine-clearing unit. Baghaei’s warning echoed comments by an unnamed senior Iranian official, who told Al Mayadeen that Seoul should not sacrifice its national interests and reputation for Washington’s policy. “Any involvement by Korea in the Strait of Hormuz will be judged as direct military participation in aggression and war against Iran,” the official said.

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Any involvement by Korea in the Strait of Hormuz will be judged as direct military participation in aggression and war against Iran.