LAGOS, Nigeria. (Voice of Naija) South Korea and Iran have held high-level talks over the security of the Strait of Hormuz as Seoul weighs whether to contribute troops to international efforts to protect shipping through the strategically vital waterway.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke by telephone with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi, on Friday, with the two officials discussing the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and the need to maintain freedom of navigation through the strait.
The conversation was initiated by Iran, according to Seoul.
The call comes at a particularly sensitive moment for South Korea because the country is considering whether to deploy military personnel to the region amid pressure from the United States and growing concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies.
Cho told Araqchi that South Korea was concerned about instability in the region and stressed Seoul’s commitment to safe maritime navigation through international security efforts.
Araqchi, meanwhile, presented Iran’s position on the ongoing conflict.
The two ministers agreed to maintain communication channels as the situation develops.
The diplomatic conversation is significant because South Korea is heavily dependent on imported energy and is therefore particularly exposed to disruptions around Hormuz.
The strait is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean.
Before the current conflict, roughly a fifth of global oil consumption passed through the waterway.
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But traffic has fallen dramatically, and the reduction has raised concerns about energy supplies in Asia, where countries such as South Korea, Japan, China and India rely heavily on Gulf oil and gas.
Seoul is therefore facing a difficult strategic calculation.
Any military contribution to efforts around Hormuz could strengthen international efforts to protect shipping, but it could also expose South Korean personnel and assets to retaliation from Iran.
Iran has already warned countries against joining what it considers US military operations in the region.
The Iranian government has previously said that military involvement by US allies around the Gulf would be viewed as participation in what Tehran describes as American aggression.
South Korea has not made a final decision on troop deployment.
Seoul recently sent an inspection team to assess the situation and determine what kind of contribution, if any, would be appropriate.
The issue has also become politically sensitive because of pressure from Washington.
According to Reuters, US President Donald Trump has criticised South Korea for not contributing sufficiently to American efforts during the Iran conflict and has scaled back some joint US-South Korean military exercises.
The latest diplomatic contact with Tehran therefore comes at a time when Seoul is attempting to balance its alliance with Washington against its economic and security interests in the Middle East.
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South Korea’s decision could have wider implications; If Seoul deploys military personnel, other Asian countries could face similar pressure to contribute to maritime security operations.
If it declines, Washington could view the decision as evidence that key allies are unwilling to share the military burden associated with protecting international shipping.
For Tehran, meanwhile, the South Korean decision matters because Seoul is an important Asian economic power and a major consumer of Gulf energy.
Maintaining diplomatic communication could therefore provide Iran with another channel for explaining its position to a country that has traditionally maintained working relations with both Washington and Tehran.
The wider crisis has already affected global energy markets: Brent crude has risen above $100 a barrel amid fears that disruptions around Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could restrict supplies.
The situation has also contributed to broader inflation concerns because higher energy prices increase transportation, manufacturing and household costs.
The two strategic waterways are now facing simultaneous security pressures.
While Hormuz is being affected by the US-Iran confrontation, Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have advanced towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising fears of another major disruption to shipping between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
For South Korea, the developments represent a direct economic concern rather than a distant geopolitical dispute.
Any prolonged interruption of Gulf energy exports could raise import costs and place additional pressure on Asian economies already dealing with elevated energy prices.
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That is why Seoul’s diplomatic engagement with Tehran is being closely watched.
The immediate question is whether South Korea will eventually join international maritime security operations or continue relying on diplomatic channels and other measures to protect its interests.
For now, Cho and Araqchi have agreed to keep communicating.
That leaves Seoul with room to assess the military risks while attempting to protect its access to the energy supplies on which its economy depends.
But as shipping traffic through Hormuz continues to fall, South Korea’s decision is becoming increasingly urgent.
