S. Korea urges Iran to restore Hormuz passage for 26 ships

South Korea's foreign minister called Saturday on Iran to resume safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for 26 South Korean vessels and more than 170 crew members stranded since U.S.-Israeli strikes ignited a regional conflict in late February, The Korea Times reported.

The maritime standoff — now entering its third month with no diplomatic solution in sight — holds particular weight for Southern California's Korean-American community, one of the largest in the United States, as families await the return of crew members stranded in one of the world's most contested waterways.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held a phone call Saturday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, their third conversation since hostilities broke out in late February 2026, according to The Korea Times. The call was initiated at Iran's request.

The 26 South Korean vessels and more than 170 crew members have been unable to transit the strait since U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Iran set off a broader regional conflict. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly a fifth of global oil supply, making its closure a critical concern for international shipping.

Cho urged Araghchi to resume safe maritime passage and expressed hope for a swift return to peace and stability in the region, The Korea Times reported. Araghchi outlined Iran's position on the country's ongoing negotiations with the United States.

Broader diplomatic efforts have stalled. Direct U.S.-Iran talks held last month in Islamabad ended without agreement, and President Donald Trump said he was "not satisfied" with Iran's most recent proposal, according to The Korea Times. Trump had already extended a ceasefire deadline in early April 2026.

Seoul has maintained that protecting its citizens in the conflict zone is a top priority and has continued to press the issue through diplomatic channels even as the United States and Iran remain far apart on a lasting deal.

The fate of the 26 stranded vessels will likely depend on whether direct U.S.-Iran talks resume and whether Tehran can secure terms it finds acceptable enough to reopen a strait that sits at the center of the world's most volatile geopolitical standoff.