South Korea has sent an official team to the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the mission is solely to assess the situation. No decision has yet been made on whether to deploy troops to this crucial waterway.
On Tuesday, 8 Sep 2026 GMT+7, South Korean authorities announced they had dispatched a fact-finding team to the Strait of Hormuz to evaluate the situation, emphasizing that no decisions have been made about sending military forces to this key shipping route.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been almost completely disrupted since the US-Iran war began on 28 Feb, causing impacts on global energy markets.
South Korea's Ministry of Defense stated, “The team was sent to inspect regional conditions and security factors. This mission does not assume that military forces will actually be deployed.”
This latest development follows repeated attempts by US President Donald Trump to pressure South Korea into assisting the US in its war against Iran. Meanwhile, the Seoul government has confirmed that the US has not requested troop deployment within any specified deadline.
“No decisions have been made regarding military deployment,” the South Korean Ministry of Defense reiterated.
South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported, citing officials, that the fact-finding team traveled to the United Arab Emirates last weekend and is currently assessing operational conditions for a possible future troop deployment.
The report also noted the team is expected to return to South Korea as early as this week.
Since 28 Feb, Iran and the US have been at war, with Tehran controlling most of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane connecting the Persian Gulf to international waters.
On Friday, 4 Sep, South Korea stated it is considering “supporting” US security efforts in the Strait but emphasized no final decision has been made.
Meanwhile, Iran issued a warning to South Korea on Tuesday, 8 Sep, stating that South Korea's military involvement in the conflict would bring “serious consequences.”
“Deploying troops or participating in any operations by other countries in the Persian Gulf or Strait of Hormuz will be regarded as direct support for the aggressor and will have serious repercussions,” said Esmail Bagaee, spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Korean-language post on X.
Bagaee also warned South Korea not to succumb to what he called “pressure and intimidation from the United States.”
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Source:cna