The South Korean foreign ministry has named former Ambassador to Kuwait Chung Byung-ha as a special envoy to Iran. Chung will be sent to Tehran soon to facilitate the safe passage of South Korean vessels and nationals during the ongoing Middle East conflict. This decision follows a phone conversation between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Chung, who currently serves as the ambassador for polar affairs, will engage in discussions with Iranian authorities regarding the situation in the Middle East and address bilateral matters between South Korea and Iran. There are currently 26 South Korea-related vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian control.
The South Korean foreign ministry aims to seek cooperation from Iran for the safe passage not only of South Korean nationals, vessels, and crews but also for all ships navigating through the region. The escalating situation in the Middle East has prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to approve direct talks with Lebanon to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
Netanyahu’s move is viewed as a potential step towards reinforcing ceasefire efforts in the region. While Netanyahu clarified the absence of a formal ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, the United States and Iran are anticipated to commence negotiations over the weekend to formalize ceasefire terms. US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about reaching a deal while cautioning Tehran against disrupting shipping activities in the Strait of Hormuz.
