Iran warns South Korea of ‘serious consequences’ of military deployment in Hormuz

Tehran, Sep 7 (EFE).- Iran warned South Korea on Monday that if it participates in military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, it will face “serious consequences,” after Seoul said that it was studying a possible deployment in the Persian Gulf.

«At present, the Iranian people are defending themselves against America’s aggressive actions, and in the situation where they are resolutely responding to America’s war crimes against women and children, any other country maintaining a military presence or participating in operations in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz can only be regarded as directly supporting the perpetrators of the aggression, and it will lead to serious consequences,» Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei posted in Korean on social media platform X.

The Iranian diplomat added that “no sovereign and responsible country should yield to America’s pressure and threats and become complicit in the aggressive acts and horrific crimes against the great Iranian people.”

South Korea said on Friday that it was considering the deployment of troops in the Strait of Hormuz as long as it does not compromise its defense capabilities.

A presidential official said on condition of anonymity to local media that, under this condition, Seoul could make military contributions towards efforts to ensure freedom of navigation through the strategic strait, and was studying this possibility.

The news about a possible South Korean deployment in Hormuz comes amid pressure from Trump, who publicly rebuked South Korean authorities for not joining his policy of «denuclearization» of Iran.

Over the last week, the war between the United States and Iran has intensified, with US attacks on Iranian territory and ships and a retaliatory bombing response of US targets and ships in the Middle East, amid the struggle for control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz after the start of the war on Feb. 28 using it as a pressure tactic in the conflict, which has blocked almost all oil shipment through the strategic passage.

Iran has demanded that ships wishing to cross obtain its permission and attacked ships attempting to bypass its blockade.

The US has carried out a blockade on Iranian ports and ships, and in recent weeks has managed to restore some maritime traffic through the strait along a southern route near Oman, according to experts. EFE

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