Members of the United Nations Security Council listen as Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran's ambassador to the UN, speaks during a meeting regarding the situation in the Middle East at UN Headquarters in New York City on April 07.[AFP/YONHAP]
The United States and Iran agreed Tuesday to a two-week temporary cease-fire mediated by Pakistan. It is a relief that tensions stopped short of catastrophe, after a standoff that escalated with warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump that “an entire civilization could disappear” and Iran’s defiant brinkmanship. Direct negotiations aimed at ending the conflict are scheduled for Friday in Islamabad. There is cautious hope that this fragile opening will lead to a full cease-fire.
About 2,000 vessels, including 26 Korean ships, remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz awaiting passage. Strict controls imposed by Iranian forces and pre-approval procedures are expected to create severe bottlenecks.
Prolonged delays have already worsened conditions on board, with some ships facing shortages of fuel and food. The government should work with Pakistan and other relevant parties to ensure the safe and timely return of Korean vessels.
The more fundamental challenge, however, lies in what follows the cease-fire. Even if the strait reopens, it remains unclear whether free navigation will be restored. Shortly after announcing the cease-fire, President Trump suggested on social media that the United States would help ease congestion and that Iran could begin reconstruction while generating revenue. His remarks have been interpreted as suggesting possible acceptance of Iran’s proposal to impose transit fees on vessels passing through the strait.
The issue of transit fees is already being discussed among Middle Eastern countries. Meanwhile, a United Nations Security Council resolution affirming freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz failed due to opposition from China and Russia.
If the strait effectively becomes a toll route controlled by specific countries, it would impose a heavy burden on Korea, which relies on the passage for more than 70 percent of its energy imports.
The situation is no longer distant. While supporting efforts to end the conflict, the government must also prepare for a restructuring of the maritime order in the postwar period. Korea should work with the International Maritime Organization to uphold free navigation and assert its rights as a major user of the strait.
The next two weeks will be critical. Korea must mobilize all available diplomatic resources to protect its national interests.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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