South Korean and Iranian Foreign Ministers Hold First Phone Call Since Iran's Warning Over Possible Hormuz Troop Deployment

Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on the 11th. This was the first call between the two since Iran publicly warned South Korea about the possibility of military deployment.

Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is responding to a question from Kim Byungjoo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, during the 6th plenary session of the 439th regular meeting of the National Assembly held on the 10th, regarding diplomacy, unification, and security. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Cho spoke with Minister Araghchi at Iran's request in the afternoon and discussed recent developments in the Middle East, bilateral relations, and the protection of nationals abroad.

During the call, Minister Cho expressed deep concern over the current situation in the Middle East and stated that he hopes for the swift restoration of sustainable peace and stability in the region. He reiterated the South Korean government’s position that the free and safe passage for all vessels, including Korean ships, must be guaranteed in the Strait of Hormuz. Minister Cho further emphasized that South Korea has consistently participated in international efforts to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and he asked for Iran’s continued attention to the safety of Korean nationals.

In response, Minister Araghchi explained Iran’s position on the current Middle East situation. Both ministers agreed to continue communication on Middle East affairs and pending issues in South Korea-Iran relations, both bilaterally and through multilateral channels.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not disclose in detail whether Minister Araghchi conveyed any specific position regarding South Korea’s consideration of deploying troops.

This phone conversation drew attention because it took place at Iran’s request immediately after Iran issued an official warning about the potential South Korean deployment to the Strait of Hormuz. It was reported that Minister Cho also explained South Korea's position during the call. Previously, on the 7th, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei wrote in a statement in Korean on X (formerly Twitter), “In this situation, any nation that stations armed forces or participates in military operations in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz will inevitably be regarded as directly aiding the aggressor, and this will lead to serious consequences.”

Subsequently, Iran asked the South Korean government whether troop deployment was in fact being considered. An official from the Office of the President stated on the 8th that Iran had raised the issue at the working level after seeing domestic media reports regarding the possible deployment. According to the official, South Korea explained to the Iranian side that “it is under review and no decision has been made.”

Recently, the government has been reviewing the possibility of sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz, as the United States had continuously requested this action. Lee Doohee, Vice Minister of National Defense, stated at a National Assembly interpellation session the previous day, “No decision has been made yet,” but added, “We are reviewing the issue comprehensively, taking into account the safety of our citizens and our nation’s economic interests.”

The fact-finding team from the Ministry of National Defense, which was dispatched to the Middle East to assess the conditions for deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, also returned the previous day. However, the Ministry of National Defense clarified that the team’s dispatch was not based on a presumption of deployment, but was part of their overall assessment and review of the situation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.