How South Korea finds itself trapped in the US-Iran war

Washington is pressuring a reluctant Seoul to support its naval blockade of Iran; Tehran is threatening consequences.

Seoul, a close ally of Washington, has been under pressure from US President Donald Trump [File: Song Kyung-Seok/Reuters]

Tehran has threatened “serious consequences” for South Korea if it interferes in the US-Israel war on Iran.

The warning comes amid reports that Seoul is mulling contributing to the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz passage, which has hampered Iran’s oil exports.

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In a statement posted on X on Monday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran and South Korea had more than 64 years of diplomatic relations based on mutual respect and that Tehran values that friendship.

However, if South Korea joins the United States in its military actions against Iran at a time when the country is defending itself from what he called US aggression and “war crimes against women and children”, then there will be consequences, he warned.

Baghaei threatened that Iran would regard any military presence or participation in operations by another country in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz “would inevitably be regarded as direct support for the aggressor and would have serious consequences”.

“No sovereign and responsible country should succumb to US pressure and intimidation and become complicit in acts of aggression and horrific crimes against the great Iranian nation,” he added.

Seoul did not respond directly, but a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement on Monday said it is communicating with the international community over the situation in the passageway.

Here’s what we know about how South Korea is getting roped in:

AH-64 Apache attack helicopters at Camp Humphreys on the final day of the annual US-South Korea UFS joint military exercise, which was shortened by six days after President Donald Trump ordered a substantial reduction in US participation, in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, August 21, 2026 [Yonhap via Reuters]

Why is South Korea involved?

Seoul, a close ally of Washington, has been under pressure from US President Donald Trump.

The issues began in mid-August, when Trump revealed in an interview, and later online, that he had spoken to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and asked that Seoul give “a little hand” in the war on Iran.

According to media reports, the two leaders had spoken over the phone on May 17.

Seoul said, “No, thanks!”, according to Trump’s message on social media.

However, as South Korea now knows, saying no to Trump has repercussions.

On August 16, Trump announced that the US would significantly scale back joint military drills it holds annually with South Korea – the evening before they were scheduled to begin.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercises are meant to sharpen Seoul’s readiness in case of a North Korean attack. They usually last for more than 11 days but were reduced to five.

In a post on his Truth Social site, Trump claimed the drills were “costly” and that they send a “hostile” signal to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with whom he is trying to build a relationship. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said in parliament there was no warning from the US.

Trump also questioned why South Korea would refuse his request when thousands of US soldiers are stationed on the Korean Peninsula.

The US also cancelled another military exercise scheduled for September, although South Korea’s military revealed it received a notification much earlier in June, with Washington citing constraints due to the war on Iran.

How has South Korea responded?

President Lee, a liberal who pushes for a dialled-down defence posture, has opted to negotiate. His office earlier released statements saying it hopes for “meaningful dialogue” with Trump.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Monday that Washington has, however, “ratcheted up pressure” on Seoul.

On Friday, a South Korean presidential official told Yonhap that Seoul could consider a military contribution to international measures seeking to free up navigation in the passageway as long as it does not affect the country’s defence readiness.

South Korea is looking at various options, the official said, including possible cooperation with France, the United Kingdom and other allies on sending noncombat and search-and-rescue forces.

The South Korean military has also started reviewing assets and troops that could be deployed, including maritime patrol aircraft, explosive ordnance disposal teams and unmanned mine detection and clearing systems, he added.

Such a move would be unpopular. The opposition has spoken out against a possible deployment, as have some within Lee’s ruling Democratic Party. Many South Koreans have also protested against the US-Israel war on Iran.

An activist wearing a cutout mask of Trump attends a rally to condemn the US-Israel war on Iran, with others in front of the US embassy in Seoul, South Korea, March 1, 2026 [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]

What is the history of US-South Korea relations?

South Korea became one of the US’s closest allies after Washington backed Seoul against Pyongyang in the Korean War of 1950.

The US supported Seoul’s economic and military growth in the years after. Under a treaty, some 29,000 US soldiers have been stationed permanently on the Korean Peninsula since the end of the war. Seoul has also relied on US defence might to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.

In return, South Korea supported several US wars, including the Iraq War, and is designated an important non-NATO ally.

In 2025, however, Washington imposed a 25 percent tariff on the country, testing relations. Seoul opted to negotiate rather than retaliate, leading the US to lower tariffs to 15 percent.

Many South Koreans were also alarmed after hundreds of South Koreans were arrested in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on a Hyundai plant in Georgia in September 2025.

Last October, Trump travelled to Seoul in a historic state visit, and earlier this year, President Lee visited the US. Lee is also trying to resume dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.

How is South Korea being affected by the US-Israel war on Iran?

South Korea is facing an economic crisis. The country relies on the Gulf supplies via the Strait of Hormuz for 60 to 70 percent of crude imports, meaning supply is being severely hit. The war has led to soaring inflation, causing the Korean won to fall to a 17-year low.

Seoul therefore has an interest in freeing up the strait. However, under Korean law, the government will require parliament’s approval before a military deployment, although some governing party members could oppose it.

华盛顿正向不情愿的首尔施压，要求其支持对伊朗的海上封锁；德黑兰则威胁要采取相应措施。

作为华盛顿的亲密盟友，首尔一直承受着美国总统唐纳德·特朗普的压力。[图片：宋京锡/路透社]

德黑兰威胁称，如果韩国干预美国和以色列对伊朗的战争，将会面临“严重后果”。

此前有报道称，首尔正在考虑协助美国对霍尔木兹海峡的海上封锁，这阻碍了伊朗的石油出口。

菲律宾警告称，在美韩削减钻探活动之际，中国可能重新崛起（共4条，第1条）

伊拉克面临主权考验（共4项），以美国为首的军事联盟即将撤军

列表 3/4：随着美伊在霍尔木兹海峡的袭击加剧，油价飙升

列表 4/4：随着燃油价格再次上涨，伊朗政府敦促公民减少燃油消耗

伊朗外交部发言人伊斯梅尔·巴盖伊周一在X网站上发表声明称，伊朗和韩国有着超过64年的外交关系，两国关系建立在相互尊重的基础上，德黑兰珍视这种友谊。

然而，他警告说，如果韩国在伊朗正遭受他所称的美国侵略和“针对妇女儿童的战争罪行”之际，加入美国对伊朗的军事行动，那么将会有后果。

巴盖伊威胁说，伊朗将把其他国家在海湾和霍尔木兹海峡的任何军事存在或参与军事行动“视为对侵略者的直接支持，并将导致严重后果”。

“任何主权和负责任的国家都不应该屈服于美国的压力和恐吓，成为针对伟大的伊朗民族的侵略行为和骇人听闻的罪行的帮凶，”他补充道。

首尔方面没有直接回应，但韩国外交部周一发表声明称，正在就通道局势与国际社会进行沟通。

以下是我们了解到的韩国是如何被卷入其中的：

2026年8月21日，在韩国平泽，AH-64阿帕奇攻击直升机在汉弗莱斯营地参加一年一度的美韩联合军事演习的最后一天。由于美国总统唐纳德·特朗普下令大幅减少美国的参与，此次演习缩短了六天。[韩联社 via 路透社]

韩国为何卷入其中？

作为华盛顿的亲密盟友，首尔一直承受着美国总统唐纳德·特朗普的压力。

问题始于 8 月中旬，当时特朗普在一次采访中透露，后来又在网上透露，他曾与韩国总统李在明通话，要求首尔在对伊朗的战争中“提供一点帮助”。

据媒体报道，两位领导人于5月17日通了电话。

根据特朗普在社交媒体上发布的消息，首尔方面回应道：“不，谢谢！”

然而，正如韩国现在所认识到的，对特朗普说“不”是有后果的。

8月16日，特朗普宣布美国将大幅缩减与韩国每年举行的联合军事演习——而就在前一天晚上，演习原定开始。

“乙支自由之盾”（UFS）演习旨在提高首尔应对朝鲜攻击的准备能力。该演习通常持续11天以上，但此次缩短至5天。

特朗普在其“真相社交”网站上发帖称，这些军演“代价高昂”，并向朝鲜领导人金正恩发出“敌对”信号，而他正试图与金正恩建立关系。韩国外长赵显铉在国会表示，美国事先并未发出任何警告。

特朗普还质疑，既然有数千名美军士兵驻扎在朝鲜半岛，韩国为何会拒绝他的请求。

美国还取消了原定于9月举行的另一次军事演习，尽管韩国军方透露，早在6月份就收到了通知，华盛顿方面则表示这是由于对伊朗战争的限制所致。

韩国方面是如何回应的？

主张降低国防姿态的自由派总统李显龙选择进行谈判。他的办公室此前发表声明称，希望与特朗普进行“有意义的对话”。

韩国联合通讯社周一报道称，华盛顿方面“加大了对首尔的压力”。

周五，一位韩国总统府官员告诉韩联社，只要不影响韩国的国防战备，首尔可以考虑向旨在疏通该航道的国际措施提供军事支持。

这位官员表示，韩国正在考虑各种方案，包括可能与法国、英国和其他盟友合作，派遣非战斗和搜救部队。

他还补充说，韩国军方也已开始审查可以部署的资产和部队，包括海上巡逻机、爆炸物处理小组和无人地雷探测和清除系统。

这样的举动会不得人心。反对派已公开反对可能的部署，李明博领导的执政党共同民主党内部也有人持反对意见。许多韩国民众也对美国和以色列发动的伊朗战争表示抗议。

2026年3月1日，一名戴着特朗普头像面具的活动人士在韩国首尔美国大使馆前参加集会，谴责美国和以色列对伊朗的战争。[金洪基/路透社]

美韩关系的历史是怎样的？

在1950年的朝鲜战争中，华盛顿支持韩国对抗平壤，此后韩国成为美国最亲密的盟友之一。

战后，美国支持首尔的经济和军事发展。根据一项条约，自战争结束以来，约有2.9万名美军士兵常驻朝鲜半岛。首尔也依靠美国的国防力量来威慑拥有核武器的朝鲜。

作为回报，韩国支持了美国的几场战争，包括伊拉克战争，并被指定为重要的非北约盟友。

然而，2025年，华盛顿对该国加征25%的关税，考验着两国关系。首尔选择谈判而非报复，最终美国将关税降至15%。

2025 年 9 月，美国移民和海关执法局 (ICE) 突袭了位于佐治亚州的一家现代汽车工厂，逮捕了数百名韩国人，这让许多韩国人感到震惊。

去年10月，特朗普对首尔进行了历史性的国事访问；今年早些时候，李明博总统也访问了美国。李明博目前也在努力恢复华盛顿和平壤之间的对话。

美国和以色列之间的伊朗战争对韩国有何影响？

韩国正面临经济危机。该国60%至70%的原油进口依赖经由霍尔木兹海峡从海湾地区进口，这意味着原油供应正遭受严重冲击。战争导致通货膨胀飙升，韩元汇率跌至17年来的最低点。

因此，首尔方面有意疏通海峡。然而，根据韩国法律，政府在部署军队前需要获得国会批准，尽管一些执政党成员可能会反对。