How South Korea finds itself trapped in the US-Iran war | US-Israel war on Iran News

Tehran has threatened “severe penalties” for South Korea if it interferes within the US-Israel struggle on Iran.

The warning comes amid experiences that Seoul is mulling contributing to the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz passage, which has hampered Iran’s oil exports.

In an announcement posted on X on Monday, Ministry of Overseas Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei mentioned Iran and South Korea had greater than 64 years of diplomatic relations based mostly on mutual respect and that Tehran values that friendship.

Nonetheless, if South Korea joins america in its navy actions in opposition to Iran at a time when the nation is defending itself from what he known as US aggression and “struggle crimes in opposition to girls and kids”, then there will probably be penalties, he warned.

Baghaei threatened that Iran would regard any navy presence or participation in operations by one other nation within the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz “would inevitably be considered direct help for the aggressor and would have severe penalties”.

“No sovereign and accountable nation ought to succumb to US strain and intimidation and change into complicit in acts of aggression and horrific crimes in opposition to the nice Iranian nation,” he added.

Seoul didn’t reply straight, however a Ministry of Overseas Affairs assertion on Monday mentioned it’s speaking with the worldwide neighborhood over the state of affairs within the passageway.

Right here’s what we find out about how South Korea is getting roped in:

Why is South Korea concerned?

Seoul, an in depth ally of Washington, has been underneath strain from US President Donald Trump.

The problems started in mid-August, when Trump revealed in an interview, and later on-line, that he had spoken to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and requested that Seoul give “a little bit hand” within the struggle on Iran.

In response to media experiences, the 2 leaders had spoken over the cellphone on Could 17.

Seoul mentioned, “No, thanks!”, in response to Trump’s message on social media.

Nonetheless, as South Korea now is aware of, saying no to Trump has repercussions.

On August 16, Trump announced that the US would considerably cut back joint navy drills it holds yearly with South Korea – the night earlier than they had been scheduled to start.

The Ulchi Freedom Defend (UFS) workouts are supposed to sharpen Seoul’s readiness in case of a North Korean assault. They often final for greater than 11 days however had been decreased to 5.

In a submit on his Reality Social web site, Trump claimed the drills had been “pricey” and that they ship a “hostile” sign to North Korean chief Kim Jong Un, with whom he’s making an attempt to construct a relationship. South Korean Overseas Minister Cho Hyun mentioned in parliament there was no warning from the US.

Trump additionally questioned why South Korea would refuse his request when hundreds of US troopers are stationed on the Korean Peninsula.

The US additionally cancelled one other navy train scheduled for September, though South Korea’s navy revealed it acquired a notification a lot earlier in June, with Washington citing constraints because of the struggle on Iran.

How has South Korea responded?

President Lee, a liberal who pushes for a dialled-down defence posture, has opted to barter. His workplace earlier launched statements saying it hopes for “significant dialogue” with Trump.

South Korea’s Yonhap information company reported on Monday that Washington has, nevertheless, “ratcheted up strain” on Seoul.

On Friday, a South Korean presidential official instructed Yonhap that Seoul may take into account a navy contribution to worldwide measures looking for to release navigation within the passageway so long as it doesn’t have an effect on the nation’s defence readiness.

South Korea is taking a look at numerous choices, the official mentioned, together with doable cooperation with France, the UK and different allies on sending noncombat and search-and-rescue forces.

The South Korean navy has additionally began reviewing property and troops that could possibly be deployed, together with maritime patrol plane, explosive ordnance disposal groups and unmanned mine detection and clearing methods, he added.

Such a transfer can be unpopular. The opposition has spoken out in opposition to a doable deployment, as have some inside Lee’s ruling Democratic Social gathering. Many South Koreans have additionally protested in opposition to the US-Israel struggle on Iran.

What’s the historical past of US-South Korea relations?

South Korea grew to become one of many US’s closest allies after Washington backed Seoul in opposition to Pyongyang within the Korean Warfare of 1950.

The US supported Seoul’s financial and navy development within the years after. Below a treaty, some 29,000 US troopers have been stationed completely on the Korean Peninsula for the reason that finish of the struggle. Seoul has additionally relied on US defence would possibly to discourage nuclear-armed North Korea.

In return, South Korea supported a number of US wars, together with the Iraq Warfare, and is designated an essential non-NATO ally.

In 2025, nevertheless, Washington imposed a 25 p.c tariff on the nation, testing relations. Seoul opted to barter relatively than retaliate, main the US to decrease tariffs to fifteen p.c.

Many South Koreans had been additionally alarmed after lots of of South Koreans had been arrested in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on a Hyundai plant in Georgia in September 2025.

Final October, Trump travelled to Seoul in a historic state go to, and earlier this yr, President Lee visited the US. Lee can also be making an attempt to renew dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.

How is South Korea being affected by the US-Israel struggle on Iran?

South Korea is going through an financial disaster. The nation depends on the Gulf provides through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 to 70 p.c of crude imports, which means provide is being severely hit. The struggle has led to hovering inflation, inflicting the Korean gained to fall to a 17-year low.

Seoul due to this fact has an curiosity in liberating up the strait. Nonetheless, underneath Korean regulation, the federal government would require parliament’s approval earlier than a navy deployment, though some governing get together members may oppose it.