South Korea to send special envoy to Iran to secure stranded vessels
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- South Korea is sending a special envoy to Iran following the recent ceasefire.
- Envoy’s primary goal is to secure the safe passage of 26 South Korean ships blocked in the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the recently announced two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, South Korea confirmed on Thursday it will dispatch a special envoy to Tehran to address the ongoing regional conflict and secure the safe passage of stranded commercial vessels.
Focus on Strait of Hormuz
During a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun emphasized the urgent need to resume free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Seoul is currently evaluating measures to assist 26 South Korea-related vessels that remain stranded in the vital waterway, which is responsible for 20 percent of the global energy supply and has been effectively blocked by Iran during the recent hostilities.
"Minister Cho announced the decision to dispatch a special envoy to Iran to discuss the situation in the Middle East, and bilateral issues between South Korea and Iran," the foreign ministry stated in an official release.
Cho also requested continued attention to ensuring the safety of South Korean nationals currently residing in Iran.
Navigating passage conditions
The recent diplomatic call, marking the second between the two ministers in just over two weeks, took place a day after US President Donald Trump announced the temporary truce.
Cho noted that the ceasefire provides a critical opportunity to reopen the strait and expressed hope that successful negotiations will lead to the swift restoration of regional stability.
A South Korean foreign ministry official noted that the immediate priority is identifying Tehran's specific conditions for allowing passage.
In a prior statement, Araghchi indicated that safe transit during the two-week period would be possible through strict "coordination" with the Iranian military and by considering specific "technical limitations."
Ministry spokesperson Park Il confirmed that Seoul is actively consulting with shipping firms and relevant allied nations to facilitate the vessels' safe transit.
The government is carefully navigating the fluid security situation while attempting to leverage the newly established ceasefire conditions to bring the stranded ships home.
