South Korean and Iranian foreign ministers discuss Hormuz transit and Middle East situation

South Korean and Iranian foreign ministers held phone talks Friday on recent Middle East developments, including vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul's foreign ministry said. The South Korean minister welcomed a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending their monthslong conflict.

The minister expressed hope for faithful implementation of the agreement and further progress in follow-up negotiations. The South Korean minister stressed the importance of ensuring free and safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Bilateral and safety issues The two ministers exchanged views on pending bilateral issues and agreed to remain in close communication regarding the safety of vessels and crews, as well as the protection of their nationals, the ministry said. The call marked the fifth telephone conversation between the two ministers since the conflict began in late February following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, 26 South Korean-linked vessels had been among more than 1,000 ships stranded inside the Persian Gulf as transit through the Strait of Hormuz became severely restricted. A total of 21 Korean vessels have since cleared the waterway, with most passing through over the past several days after Tehran agreed to allow vessels to pass without fees for 60 days under last week's memorandum of understanding with the United States.

President Lee Jae Myung said in a post on social platform X on Friday that three more vessels are expected to transit the waterway over the weekend. One of the remaining ships is the HMM Namu, which is undergoing repairs after being damaged by Iranian-linked missile attacks last month.