Tehran has warned South Korea of serious consequences if it interferes in the US-Israel war on Iran, amid reports that Seoul is weighing a contribution to the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated on X that any military participation in the Gulf would be viewed as direct support for the aggressor. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that it is communicating with the international community regarding the situation. Washington has been pressuring Seoul after US President Donald Trump requested assistance in mid-August following a May phone call with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. When initial reports indicated Seoul declined, Trump announced the scaling back of the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military drills from more than 11 days to five, citing costs and a desire to avoid signaling hostility to North Korea, while also questioning the presence of thousands of US troops on the peninsula. A September military exercise was also cancelled by the US. A South Korean presidential official reported that Seoul is considering a military contribution—such as noncombat, search-and-rescue forces, maritime patrol aircraft, and mine-clearing systems—provided it does not harm defense readiness, though any deployment requires parliamentary approval and faces opposition. South Korea relies on the Strait of Hormuz for 60 to 70 percent of its crude imports, and supply disruptions have caused soaring inflation and a 17-year low for the won.
Source: aljazeera.com
