Iran Publicly Warns South Korea That Hormuz Deployment Would Be Treated as War Participation

Senior Iranian official says Seoul should not cooperate with U.S. military operations

Presidential office reviews options for contribution while weighing Korean Peninsula readiness

A senior Iranian official has warned that Iran would treat any South Korean involvement in the Strait of Hormuz as participation in war. The official also said Seoul should not cooperate with U.S. military operations against Iran.

Lebanon's pro-Hezbollah outlet Al Mayadeen reported on September 4 an interview with a senior Iranian official in the country's security and political establishment.

"South Korea should not bow to U.S. pressure to cooperate with illegal American military operations," the official said. "South Korea should not sacrifice its national interests and reputation for U.S. policies that are aggressive and that undermine security and stability."

The official said South Korea was well aware that the root cause of instability in the Strait of Hormuz was the aggressive actions of the U.S. and Israel, and should not overlook that fact.

The official also issued a military warning directed at South Korea.

"If South Korea acts against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran will regard it as direct military aggression against Iran and participation in war," the official said. "Iran will not stand by and watch any complicity in crimes that violate Iranians and their rights. As long as illegal U.S. intervention and the blockade and economic war against Iran continue, restoring regional security is impossible."

Iran's Fars News Agency also carried the remarks, citing Al Mayadeen. Fars added that South Korea's presidential office had said no decision had been made on U.S. pressure to join military action against Iran. It also reported that the possible deployment of a search-and-rescue unit to the Strait of Hormuz had been discussed.

An official at Cheong Wa Dae, South Korea's presidential office, was asked on September 4 whether an overseas deployment could be considered as a military contribution in the Strait of Hormuz.

"We believe there may be room to act as long as it does not significantly undermine readiness on the Korean Peninsula," the official said. "To make a meaningful contribution in Hormuz, we need to take Korean Peninsula readiness into account, and we are reviewing various aspects of that posture."

Lee Song-ryeol, Hankyung.com reporter yisr0203@hankyung.com