Seoul, April 8: The South Korean government announced on Wednesday that it is making every effort to safely navigate its ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. This initiative comes in the wake of a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, with discussions about reopening this crucial oil route.
Officials stated that the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources will collaborate with the Foreign Ministry and the Maritime Ministry to ensure that Korean oil tankers can pass through the area safely and swiftly.
Currently, there are a total of seven oil tankers in the region, four of which are flying the South Korean flag. Together, these tankers are transporting approximately 14 million barrels of crude oil, sufficient for South Korea’s needs for about five days.
Additionally, eight more South Korean vessels are also stranded in the area. This includes petroleum product carriers, five bulk carriers, two gas carriers, one container ship, and one vehicle transport ship.
This announcement follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that the U.S. has agreed to halt attacks on Iran for two weeks. However, this is contingent upon Iran’s immediate and complete agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
South Korean officials indicated that the government is closely monitoring the situation and assessing the conditions for the passage of ships. The route had nearly been closed due to the ongoing conflict against Iran led by the U.S.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council stated that the two-week ceasefire does not signal the end of the conflict. Further negotiations will address their ten demands.
According to Iranian news agencies, these demands include assurances from the U.S. that no future attacks will occur, maintaining Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, the right for Iran to continue its nuclear program, and the removal of all sanctions, whether direct or imposed through other countries. Additionally, all resolutions from the United Nations Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency should be revoked.
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