The South Korean government said Monday it is monitoring developments and communicating with relevant countries after Iran indicated willingness to allow Japanese vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz "through consultation."
"The government is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East while seeking ways to protect our citizens and secure energy shipping routes," a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said. "We have been engaging in multilateral communication with relevant countries, including Iran."
According to Kyodo News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said "the strait is open" and that "passage for non-enemy vessels is possible, and we are willing to provide safe passage through consultation with the relevant countries." Regarding Japanese ships, he said Iran is "willing to allow passage through consultation."
Some observers suggest Iran's preemptive release of this conciliatory message to Japan through Japanese media may be aimed at creating rifts among U.S. allies. Earlier, seven U.S. allies—the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Canada—issued a statement condemning Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea subsequently added its name to the statement. According to the UK government, which led the initiative, the number of participating countries has now grown to 20.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping lane through which more than 20% of the world's seaborne oil trade passes. The navigable channel for oil tankers lies entirely within Iranian territorial waters. For East Asian countries including South Korea and Japan, the strait serves as a vital lifeline.
A global energy crisis is intensifying after Iran effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz following U.S.-Israeli airstrikes. The U.S. government estimates the blockade is causing a daily supply shortfall of 10 million to 14 million barrels.
China and India are currently negotiating with the Iranian government to secure passage for their vessels. Iran has been allowing a limited number of ships through the strait to demonstrate control over the waterway and ease its diplomatic isolation.