Overview
- South Korea said it will join a joint leaders’ statement by Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and Canada condemning Iran’s attacks and calling for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Seoul announced active consultations with Iran and other governments to safeguard citizens and secure energy transport routes as it seeks a return to normal shipping.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Kyodo News the waterway is not closed and that Tehran is ready to facilitate passage for Japanese-related vessels after coordination, while restricting ships from countries that attacked Iran.
- Shipping data and industry reporting show sharply reduced traffic, with recent transits often involving India-, Pakistan- or China-flagged vessels and an emerging near-Iran coastal corridor vetted case by case.
- Allied navies have not formed a broad escort coalition, the International Energy Agency’s coordinated stockpile releases are moving ahead, and President Donald Trump is pressing partners to contribute ships to secure the route.