Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Monday threatened South Korea with “serious consequences” if it sends ships, planes, or personnel to help secure the Strait of Hormuz against Iranian terrorism. Baqaei began his threatening message on social media platform X by praising the 64-year history of “mutual respect” and “friendly relations” between Iran and the Republic of Korea (ROK). “However, at present, the Iranian people are defending themselves against America’s aggressive actions, and in the situation where they are resolutely responding to America’s war crimes against women and children, any other country maintaining a military presence or participating in operations in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz can only be regarded as directly supporting the perpetrators of the aggression, and it will lead to serious consequences,” Baqaei said.
“No sovereign and responsible country should yield to America’s pressure and threats and become complicit in the aggressive acts and horrific crimes against the great Iranian people,” he concluded. The South Korean government said on Friday that “nothing has been decided” about a potential deployment to the Strait of Hormuz to protect international shipping against Iranian piracy and terrorism, but some options were under discussion, including sending troops, maritime patrol aircraft, and a support ship.
