FM Cho tells Iran no decision made on possible Hormuz deployment during ministerial talks

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told Iran on Friday that Seoul has made no decision on a possible deployment to the Strait of Hormuz during phone talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. He said South Korea wants the free and safe passage of all vessels and will keep participating in efforts to restore freedom of navigation. The two ministers also agreed to maintain communication on regional developments and bilateral issues.

It was the sixth known phone conversation between Cho Hyun and Seyyed Abbas Araghchi since the U.S.-Iran conflict began in late February.

A ministry official said South Korea has not decided whether to deploy military assets to the Strait of Hormuz.

The defense ministry sent a fact-finding team to the United Arab Emirates earlier this week to assess the security and operational situation near the strait.

Under South Korean law, any overseas deployment of military forces requires parliamentary approval.

Local media have reported that the military is reviewing maritime patrol aircraft, explosive ordnance disposal teams and unmanned systems for possible deployment.

Published Sep 11, 2026 2:29 pm KST

Updated Sep 11, 2026 4:18 pm KST

Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, right, holds a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi in New York on Sept. 25, 2025, on the sidelines of the 80th U.N. General Assembly high-level session. Courtesy of foreign ministry

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told his Iranian counterpart Friday that Seoul has made no decision on a possible deployment of military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, officials said, amid speculation over Seoul's possible military role in securing the strategic waterway.

Cho made the remarks during phone talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi as Seoul is weighing options for contributing to efforts to secure the strait amid U.S. pressure. Iran has strongly opposed any foreign military involvement.

During the talks, Cho expressed deep concern over the recent situation in the Middle East and voiced hope that sustainable peace and stability would be restored in the region, according to the ministry.

On the Strait of Hormuz, Cho underscored Seoul's consistent position that the free and safe passage of all vessels must be guaranteed and reiterated South Korea's continued participation in international efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway.

"Cho conveyed our position that no decision has been made regarding a possible deployment and stressed the importance of restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible," a ministry official said.

"The ministers explained their respective positions on issues related to the situation in the Middle East," he added.

Cho also asked Iran to pay close attention to the safety of South Korean nationals in the region, according to the ministry.

Araghchi explained Iran's position on the current situation in the Middle East, while the two ministers agreed to maintain communication on regional developments and bilateral issues, the ministry said.

It marked the sixth known phone conversation between the two ministers since the U.S.-Iran conflict began in late February.

In a Telegram post, Araghchi simply said he and Cho had a phone call "to discuss and exchange views on the latest regional developments."

On Monday, Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, warned that any other country's military presence or participation in operations in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz "will have serious consequences."

The Seoul government has stressed that no specific measures have yet been decided regarding its possible role in securing the strait, though local media have reported that the military is reviewing a range of assets for possible deployment.

A potential list includes maritime patrol aircraft, explosive ordnance disposal teams and unmanned systems for detecting and clearing naval mines.

The defense ministry sent a fact-finding team to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this week to assess the security and operational situation near the strait.

The government has said the mission does not presuppose a decision to deploy troops, though sending an assessment team to a potential deployment site is part of due procedures required under the ministry's directives on overseas military deployment.

Upon its return, the team is required to report its findings to the National Security Council.

Any decision on a military deployment is politically sensitive at home, with even some lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party voicing opposition to sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz.

韩国外长赵显铉周五在与伊朗外长赛义德·阿巴斯·阿拉格奇的电话会谈中告诉伊朗，首尔方面尚未就可能向霍尔木兹海峡部署军队做出任何决定。他表示，韩国希望所有船只都能自由安全地通行，并将继续参与恢复航行自由的努力。两位外长还同意就地区局势和双边问题保持沟通。

这是自2月底美伊冲突爆发以来，赵显铉和赛义德·阿巴斯·阿拉格奇之间已知的第六次电话交谈。

一位政府官员表示，韩国尚未决定是否向霍尔木兹海峡部署军事力量。

国防部本周早些时候向阿拉伯联合酋长国派遣了一个调查小组，以评估海峡附近的安全和作战形势。

根据韩国法律，任何海外军事部署都需要国会批准。

当地媒体报道称，军方正在审查海上巡逻机、爆炸物处理小组和无人系统，以考虑可能的部署方案。

发布于2026年9月11日下午2:29（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月11日下午4:18（韩国标准时间）

2025年9月25日，韩国外交部长赵显铉（右）在纽约出席第80届联合国大会高级别会议期间，与伊朗外交部长赛义德·阿巴斯·阿拉格奇举行会晤。图片由韩国外交部提供。

据官员透露，韩国外长赵显周五告诉伊朗外长，首尔尚未就向霍尔木兹海峡部署军事力量做出任何决定。此前有猜测称，首尔可能在确保这条战略水道的安全方面发挥军事作用。

赵立坚是在与伊朗外长赛义德·阿巴斯·阿拉格奇通电话时发表上述言论的。目前，在美方施压下，首尔正在权衡各种方案，以期为维护霍尔木兹海峡的安全做出贡献。伊朗强烈反对任何外国军事介入。

据外交部消息，会谈期间，赵显龙对近期中东局势表示深切关注，并希望该地区能够恢复可持续的和平与稳定。

在霍尔木兹海峡问题上，赵强调了首尔的一贯立场，即必须保证所有船只的自由和安全通行，并重申韩国将继续参与国际社会为恢复该战略水道航行自由所做的努力。

“赵承熙传达了我们的立场，即尚未就可能的部署做出任何决定，并强调尽快恢复霍尔木兹海峡航行自由的重要性，”一位国防部官员表示。

“部长们就中东局势相关问题阐述了各自的立场，”他补充道。

据韩国外交部消息，赵显龙还要求伊朗密切关注在该地区韩国公民的安全。

伊朗外交部表示，阿拉格奇阐述了伊朗对当前中东局势的立场，两位部长同意就地区局势发展和双边问题保持沟通。

这是自2月底美伊冲突爆发以来，两位部长之间已知的第六次电话交谈。

Araghchi 在 Telegram 上发帖称，他和 Cho 通了电话，“讨论并交流了对最新地区局势的看法”。

周一，伊朗外交部发言人伊斯梅尔·巴盖警告说，任何其他国家在波斯湾和霍尔木兹海峡的军事存在或参与军事行动“都将产生严重后果”。

首尔政府强调，尚未就其在维护海峡安全方面可能扮演的角色做出任何具体决定，但当地媒体报道称，军方正在审查一系列资产，以备可能部署。

潜在清单包括海上巡逻飞机、爆炸物处理小组和用于探测和清除水雷的无人系统。

国防部本周早些时候向阿拉伯联合酋长国（阿联酋）派遣了一个调查小组，以评估海峡附近的安全和作战形势。

政府表示，此次考察并不意味着一定会部署部队，但根据国防部关于海外军事部署的指示，派遣评估小组前往潜在部署地点是必要的程序之一。

调查小组返回后，须向国家安全委员会报告调查结果。

任何军事部署的决定在国内都是政治敏感的，甚至执政的民主党的一些议员也表示反对向霍尔木兹海峡派兵。