Iran warns South Korea against military presence in Persian Gulf
TEHRAN: Iran has warned South Korea that any operational involvement or military presence in the Persian Gulf or the Strait of Hormuz would be regarded as direct support for the United States, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Monday.
In a Korean-language post on X, Baghaei said Iran highly valued its more than 64-year relationship with South Korea, describing the bilateral ties as being based on mutual respect.
“However, in the current situation, when the Iranian nation is defending itself against acts of aggression and responding decisively to US war crimes against women and children, any operational participation or military presence by other parties in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz will be considered direct support for the aggressor side and will have serious consequences,” he said.
Baghaei also warned that governments should not bow to pressure from Washington to become involved in what he described as aggressive actions against Iran.
“No sovereign and responsible government submits to US pressure and extortion to take part in aggressive and heinous acts against the great Iranian nation,” he said.
The remarks came as tensions remain high in the Persian Gulf and around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments.