SEOUL: South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun asked his Iranian counterpart on Monday to ensure the safety of vessels that remain inside the Strait of Hormuz and expressed deep concern about the impact of the Middle East conflict on the global economy, his office said. Cho spoke to Iran's Abbas Araqchi by telephone and urged Tehran to stop strikes against civilian facilities in Gulf states and to ensure the safety of navigation through the Strait, his ministry said in a statement.
Araqchi explained Iran's position on the crisis and agreed with Cho to continue communication, the ministry said. South Korea has more than two dozen vessels stuck in the Gulf with more than 100 crew members as Iran halted tanker traffic through the Strait following strikes by the US and Israel against it.
South Korea is one of the world's largest buyers of energy, with about 70% of its crude oil shipments and 20% of liquefied natural gas typically sourced from the Middle East, according to Korea International Trade Association data. — Reuters
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