Energy or ally? Seoul faces pressure to choose as Trump issues Hormuz ultimatum.

U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak with reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on March 20. [AP/YONHAP]

 
U.S. President Donald Trump's ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours has put Korea in a precarious position, with Seoul under pressure to choose between maintaining dialogue with Tehran over transit rights and bowing to Washington's demands to support security efforts in the critical waterway. 
 
Trump warned in a social media post on Saturday that the United States would strike Iranian power plants if Tehran fails to fully reopen the strait. 
 

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“If Iran does not fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate various power plants, starting with the biggest one first! Thank you for your attention to this matter," he said. 
 
He also called on allies to take a more active role, specifically citing Korea, Japan and Europe, as well as non-ally China.
 
"We don't use the strait. We don't need it. Europe needs it. Korea, Japan, China, [and] a lot of other people," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday. "So they'll have to get involved a little bit on that one. Well, they should get involved, and I was a little bit surprised that they said no, because we always say yes to them." 
 
 
Trump presses allies 
 
The remarks came after a joint statement issued on Thursday by seven countries — Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada — condemning Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran blocked the waterway on March 2 in response to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that killed Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei on Feb. 28. 
 
"We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces," the statement read. "We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817."
 

A map showing the Strait of Hormuz is seen in this illustration from June 22, 2025. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

 
The statement, however, did not mention military action against Iran. 
 
Trump’s comments on Friday appear to reflect frustration over the absence of concrete military measures in the statement, according to Kim Jae-chun, a professor at Sogang University’s Graduate School of International Studies.
 
“Trump expected more cooperation from allies to resolve the Strait of Hormuz situation and the broader Iran issue, but that cooperation has not materialized,” Kim said. “His remarks suggest pressure not only on Iran but also on allies, as he has emphasized that countries using the strait should take responsibility for securing it." 
 
 
Iran seeks to exploit divisions
 
Iran, meanwhile, has sought to exploit divisions among U.S. allies by urging them not to join U.S.-led maritime escort operations in the strait. 
 
Ali Mousavi, Iran’s representative to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), noted that ships not linked to "Iran's enemies" could pass the strait ⁠by coordinating security and safety arrangements with Tehran.
 
"Diplomacy remains Iran's priority," Mousavi said. "However, a complete cessation of aggression as ⁠well as mutual trust and confidence are more important."   
 

People display placards, wave flags and chant as they attend the 'Stop Bombing Iran' march to Whitehall in London on March 21. [EPA/YONHAP]

 
His remarks appear to pressure U.S. allies not to join maritime escort operations for ships passing through the strait.
 
Diplomatic observers have also noted that the Korean government is open to holding talks with Iran.
 
"The government is continuing to monitor developments in the Middle East while seeking ways to protect our citizens and secure energy supply routes," a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said. “We are communicating with relevant countries, including Iran, through various channels."

 
The situation has led to what analysts describe as a growing “alliance dilemma” for Seoul, which must balance pressure from Washington with the need to maintain dialogue with Tehran. 
 
Other countries are also starting to act more independently, with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) saying it is adjusting its operations while working with allies.
 

Cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz are seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, close to the border with Oman’s Musandam governance, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran on March 11. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

 
"We can confirm that we are adjusting our posture in the context of NATO mission Iraq," NATO said on Friday. "We are working in close coordination with allies and partners." 
 
The move followed concerns that NATO forces in Baghdad, Iraq, could be targeted by Iran as tensions escalate. 
 
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing U.S. officials, that Iran launched two ballistic missiles earlier that day toward the British-U.S. military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Although the attack did not hit the base, analysts say it may have aimed to strain relations between the United States and Britain. 
  
Trump’s threat to target Iran’s energy infrastructure, including power plants, could further discourage allies from offering military support, as such strikes risk civilian casualties and could raise legal and political concerns.
 
 
Limited leverage 
 
Korea also faces limits on its ability to use economic leverage to ease U.S. pressure.
 
Japan recently announced a $73 billion investment plan following a summit between Trump and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, but analysts say Tokyo still faces pressure to support operations related to the Strait of Hormuz.
 
Korea, meanwhile, has made little progress on its investment commitments to the United States outlined in a joint fact sheet from the Korea-U.S. summit in November last year, making it difficult for Seoul to use them as leverage.
 
“Unlike other conflicts, it is difficult to build a shared sense of responsibility for international security in the Iran situation, yet U.S. expectations of its allies have grown,” said Park In-hwi, an international studies professor at Ewha Womans University. “The key issue is how to bridge that gap. Korea needs to consider its options while maintaining dialogue with both the United States and Iran." 


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.
BY SHIM SEOK-YONG [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]