Amid emerging reports that two Japanese ships have safely passed through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, a total of 26 South Korean vessels are reportedly stranded in the Gulf region. There are over 170 South Korean crew members aboard.

According to industry sources on April 6, a container ship owned by a French company passed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 3 local time, followed in succession by two Japanese vessels.

In relation to this, South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, “Conditions differ by ship and country,” and stated, “We are prioritizing safety and respecting the position of the shipping companies, which takes this into account.”

Iran’s position is to grant passage selectively, applying transit restrictions only to hostile nations that have attacked it, such as the United States and Israel.

As the blockade also includes allies of these nations, South Korea is in a difficult situation where it cannot move its ships hastily.

Meanwhile, Iran and Oman held vice-ministerial level talks on April 5 local time to discuss measures for ensuring smooth transit through the strait. It is anticipated that the selective criteria for permitting passage will be determined through these discussions.

In a recent interview with a foreign news outlet, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, asserted regarding the protocol being developed with Oman, “The purpose is not restriction, but to guarantee safe passage and provide better services.”

He also emphasized, “One should not expect the pre-war rules to apply,” stressing that “Navigation restrictions and prohibitions are inevitable for aggressor nations and the countries that support them.”

Source:Business Korea