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Korea treads carefully as Iranian parliament approves Strait of Hormuz toll plan

Published: 31 Mar. 2026, 20:04

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Park Il, speaks at a press briefing in the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Jongno District on March 31. [NEWS1]

Korea struck a cautious note Tuesday over Iran's move to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz as the Iran war continues, saying it is closely monitoring the situation.

Iran's parliamentary commission has passed legislation introducing fees for ships passing through the vital waterway for global energy supplies, sparking concern from the United States, the European Union and other countries.

"We are closely monitoring the situation and developments in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Park Il announced during a press briefing.

"We maintain that freedom of navigation and the safety of all vessels must be guaranteed and that global energy supplies should be normalized as soon as possible," Park said.

A ministry official noted the need to carefully assess the issue, taking into account various factors, including negotiations between the United States and Iran, the positions of other countries, and how discussions will unfold at the United Nations and relevant international organizations.

"Freedom of navigation and maritime security are like global public goods," the official told reporters. "We are also taking into account the potential impact on our relations with Iran, alongside ongoing international discussions."

Yonhap