Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, held phone talks Friday on the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz. Cho voiced concern over regional tensions, backed international efforts for freedom of navigation, and asked Iran to protect Korean nationals. The two ministers agreed to keep communicating on regional developments and bilateral issues.
Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, right, holds a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi in New York on Sept. 25, 2025, on the sidelines of the 80th U.N. General Assembly high-level session. Courtesy of foreign ministry
Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, held phone talks Friday and discussed the situation in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
The phone conversation comes as Korea is weighing whether to deploy military assets to help secure the strategic waterway amid the United States' pressure on Seoul to make a military contribution. Iran has strongly opposed any foreign military involvement.
During the talks, Cho expressed deep concern over the recent situation in the Middle East and voiced hope that sustainable peace and stability would be restored in the region, according to the ministry.
