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No plans to pay to get ships out of Hormuz, foreign minister says

Published: 15 Apr. 2026, 18:36

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun speaks during a meeting of the parliamentary foreign affairs and unification committee held at the National Assembly in western Seoul on April 15. [NEWS1]

Korea has no plans to pay Iran to get its stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul's top diplomat said Wednesday, noting that it does not intend to take any action that would run counter to the U.S.-led blockade of the shipping lane.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun made the remarks during a parliamentary session, in response to a lawmaker's question about whether paying Iran a toll for transit would conflict with the U.S. Navy-led blockade aimed at preventing Tehran from taking control of the waterway.

"At this stage, we have no plans to pay Iran any form of compensation or to take any action that would run counter to what the United States has stated," Cho told the National Assembly.

The minister confirmed that the government has provided data on its ships stranded in the strait not only with Iran but with the United States and the Gulf nations as well.

Seoul said earlier it has shared with Tehran the details regarding the 26 ships and some 170 seafarers remaining in the maritime chokepoint currently blocked amid the war.

The move has been seen as a shift from its earlier measured stance on engaging in any form of talks with Iran about the ships and crew, signaling the possibility of negotiations with Iran for their passage.

"We have not only provided Iran [with the information] but all of the [Gulf Cooperation Council] states and the United States, and we have asked them for [cooperation regarding] their safety," Cho said.

Seoul had previously declined to confirm whether it had given the information to Iran, but the Blue House acknowledged Tuesday that the data had been provided to relevant countries.

Cho said that the government decided to share the information in consideration of the two-week ceasefire agreed between Washington and Tehran.

"To be able to do something in between, we gave the information about 26 ships to neighboring countries [to ensure] their safety, and going forward, to seek their cooperation in getting them out," he said.

Regarding President Lee Jae Myung's recent social media posts about Israel, Cho said the Foreign Ministry had been in close communication with the country and that the issue should no longer warrant a further diplomatic spat between the two sides.

"Israel has understood, and there has been no further statement from them," Cho said. "It has been wrapped up nicely in that way."

Lee drew controversy both from Israel and at home after he made comments on his X account denouncing Israeli military actions against Palestinians, saying that the killings are no different than those from the Holocaust by the Nazis during World War II. Israel strongly protested his remarks.

"The remarks the head of state made about these kinds of issues are linked to the identity of the Republic of Korea, which has underscored the importance of universal human rights and international humanitarian law," Cho said.

"We, as the Foreign Ministry, have clearly understood the intent and purpose of the social media posts."

Yonhap