Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned South Korea on Monday that sending ships, aircraft or personnel to help secure the Strait of Hormuz would bring “serious consequences,” as Seoul weighs whether to join international efforts to protect shipping in the region.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei posted the warning on social media, opening by noting the 64-year history of “mutual respect” and “friendly relations” between Iran and South Korea before delivering the threat.
“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,” Baqaei said.
He added: “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’s government said Friday that “nothing has been decided” regarding a potential deployment to the Strait of Hormuz to guard against what it described as Iranian piracy and terrorism targeting international shipping. Officials said options under discussion include sending troops, maritime patrol aircraft and a support ship.
The debate in Seoul follows friction with Washington. President Donald Trump said a few weeks ago that he was frustrated after South Korea told him “no thanks” when he asked the country to “join us in the denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The government of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is reportedly weighing what contributions it could make to repair relations with the United States.
Iranian academic Mohammad Marandi told the Arab news outlet Al Mayadeen on Sunday that South Korea has assets in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar that would be exposed to Iranian retaliation.
“If the South Koreans participate in this war against Iran, Iran will see it as the enemy,” Marandi said.
Marandi dismissed the idea of a limited, largely symbolic South Korean deployment, arguing it would provoke Iran without changing the military balance in the strait. “What is a ship or two from South Korea going to do? It’s foolish,” he said.
“Iran will not only target the South Korean military assets, but Iran could easily destroy their economic assets across the Persian Gulf region. The Koreans are very vulnerable to Iran. Iran can hurt them very badly,” he said.
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