0
The fast combat support ship ROKS Soyang during its commissioning ceremony in 2018. / Yonhap

A senior Iranian official warned that if South Korea takes military action confronting Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, it will be regarded as entering the war.

According to Lebanese pro-Hezbollah broadcaster Al Mayadeen and other outlets on the 5th, a senior Iranian security and political official stated in an interview, "South Korea must not bow to U.S. pressure coercing it into cooperating with Washington's illegal military operations."

The official added, "South Korea should not sacrifice its own national interests and reputation for aggressive U.S. policies that undermine security and stability," stressing, "South Korea is well aware that the root cause of instability in the Strait of Hormuz lies in the aggressive actions of the U.S. and Israel, and this reality must not be overlooked."

The official continued, "If South Korea takes action confronting Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will regard it as direct military aggression against Iran and participation in the war."

The official also emphasized, "We will not tolerate any complicity in crimes violating the Iranian people and their rights," underscoring that "restoring regional security remains impossible as long as Washington's illegal interventions, blockades, and economic warfare against Iran persist."

Iran's Fars News Agency also reported these remarks, citing Al Mayadeen. Fars reported that while the South Korean presidential office stated no decision has yet been made regarding U.S. pressure to join the conflict against Iran, a search-and-rescue unit could potentially be deployed to the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, a Cheong Wa Dae official stated on the 4th regarding the possibility of reviewing an overseas deployment as a military contribution to the Strait of Hormuz: "Our view is that we may have room to maneuver, provided it does not cause significant impairment to our defense readiness posture on the Korean Peninsula." The official added, "To make a substantive contribution in Hormuz, our defense posture on the Korean Peninsula must be taken into account, and various reviews regarding that posture are underway."

                                                                                                          Kim So-young