Three Japanese and French vessels that had been stranded at the Strait of Hormuz have exited the waterway, prompting the South Korean government to assess the situation. The ships are reportedly linked to countries that maintain friendly relations with Iran.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, a Japanese liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier that transited the Strait of Hormuz on the 2nd of this month is a Panama-flagged vessel jointly owned by Japan's Mitsui and Oman. A Japanese liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier that made the second transit on the 4th is headed for India. The vessel reportedly has no Japanese crew members on board, with most of the crew being Indian nationals. A container ship belonging to a French shipping company that also escaped the strait is a Malta-flagged vessel whose captain independently transited the waterway with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched on.
Oman has recently been in discussions with Iran regarding navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz. India enjoys exceptional benefits through its friendly relationship with Iran. Neither the Japanese nor the French government was involved in facilitating the ships' passage through the strait, according to reports.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, speaking to reporters on Tuesday in response to criticism that South Korean vessels have not been able to exit, said, "The Japanese and French ships that transited the Strait of Hormuz vary widely in terms of flag state, ownership, destination and crew nationality." The official added, "Simple comparisons between countries do not sufficiently reflect the actual situation."