South Korea says an HMM-owned tanker passes through the Strait of Hormuz after coordination between Seoul and Tehran. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun tells a parliamentary session that a South Korean tanker is exiting the strait under coordination with the Iranian side. Seoul says it completed consultations with Iranian authorities before the vessel sailed cautiously.
Korea Times reports that an Iranian message to the Korean Embassy in Tehran on Monday night allows one Korean vessel to transit. The Korean government relays the approval to HMM, which decides to proceed. The tanker, identified as the crude oil carrier Universal Winner, departs from waters near Qatar early Tuesday. It follows an Iran-approved route and reaches the strait later Wednesday, continuing its voyage.
Both accounts describe the move as coordinated with Iran and other relevant countries to support navigational safety. The transit is described as the first known passage by a South Korean tanker since maritime traffic in the region was disrupted earlier this year, amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
