Seoul weighs direct Iran talks as Trump ramps up pressure over Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives from the Blue Room to speak about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House, Thursday, in Washington. Reuters-Yonhap

Korea is showing signs of backing away from its stance against direct bilateral talks with Iran, as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz intensify with U.S. President Donald Trump stepping up pressure on allies to take a more active role.

Officials now indicate that Seoul's position — that it would not pursue negotiations with Tehran solely on behalf of Korean vessels stranded in the strait — may be shifting as the conflict evolves.

“A decision could be made depending on developments on the ground and the needs of shipping companies,” a government official said.

Currently, 26 Korean-flagged vessels remain unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, with hundreds of crew members on board. The vessels are incurring combined daily losses of about 2.1 billion won ($1.43 million), according to the Korea Shipowners’ Association.

Trump has sharply raised pressure on U.S. allies, singling out Korea in unusually direct terms.

“Let the European countries do it. Let South Korea, who was not helpful to us, by the way. … Let South Korea do it,” Trump said during an annual Easter luncheon at the White House, Wednesday (local time), adding, “We only have 45,000 soldiers in harm’s way over there, right next to a nuclear force.”

The number of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea is about 28,500.

Trump reinforced the same message in a televised national address on the Iran conflict.

“We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks,” he said.

He also said countries dependent on Middle Eastern oil should "take the lead" in securing the Strait of Hormuz.

"To those countries that can’t get fuel — many of which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran — ... Go to the Strait and just take it. Protect it," Trump said.

Korea's presidential office said it is closely monitoring the situation.

“We watched Trump’s address carefully in a cautious atmosphere,” a senior official at the presidential office said. “No decision has been made on whether to issue an official response.”

The foreign ministry also signaled a cautious approach.

“Freedom of navigation in international sea lanes serves the interests of all countries and should be protected under international law,” foreign ministry spokesperson Park Il said during a regular briefing Thursday.

“We are paying close attention to U.S. President Trump’s remarks and responding in close communication with the U.S.,” he said. “We will closely monitor developments in the Middle East and explore ways to protect our citizens and secure energy supply routes.”

President Lee Jae Myung has instructed relevant authorities to step up efforts to resolve the situation. During a recent emergency economic meeting, he called on the foreign and oceans ministries to “work together to find ways to ensure the safe passage” of the stranded vessels.

A foreign ministry official said the passage of the 26 vessels must be assessed in light of how the broader conflict unfolds. "The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is very fluid and variable," the official said, noting that Trump's declaration of large-scale strikes within two to three weeks will inevitably shape conditions in the strait.

Iran has indicated that passage could be arranged if information on the vessels is shared in advance, according to diplomatic sources. The official added that diplomatic communication with Tehran remains open, though contacts so far have been limited to asking Iran to look after Korean nationals in humanitarian situations.

The government said it will determine its response after reviewing developments in the conflict and discussions among foreign ministers from 35 countries.