"If Troops Deployed, South Korean Facilities Could Be Targets"... Iran's 'Unofficial Spokesperson' Issues Grim Warning

As the South Korean government reviews the dispatch of troops to the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian figure has warned that if South Korea decides to send troops, even South Korean civilian facilities in the Middle East could become targets of attack.

According to Middle East-focused media outlet Middle East Eye on the 6th (local time), Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran, predicted that "if South Korea participates in the war, Iran will consider South Korea an enemy" and "will seek to destroy South Korean assets in the region."

Professor Marandi also argued that the targets of attack would not be limited to South Korean military assets, claiming that South Korean companies and civilian assets located in Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar could also become targets.

Professor Marandi is known to have served as an advisor for nuclear negotiations with the United States in 2021 and 2022, managing behind-the-scenes negotiations with the U.S.

Because he has continuously conveyed the stance of the Iranian government through domestic and foreign media, he is recently referred to as Iran's 'unofficial spokesperson'.

Following previous remarks by an Iranian security official stating that South Korea's troop deployment would be regarded as a direct military aggression, Professor Marandi has issued an additional warning that the scope of attacks could expand to include private facilities of South Korean companies.

Currently, major South Korean companies including Samsung C&T, Hyundai E&C, and Daewoo E&C are carrying out large-scale projects such as nuclear power plants, power stations, and new port construction in the Middle East region.

Accordingly, the possibility of attacks by the Iranian military on South Korean companies and facilities in the event of a South Korean troop deployment cannot be ruled out.

In fact, Iran has previously carried out drone attacks and other strikes not only against U.S. forces but also against oil refineries and energy infrastructure in Middle Eastern countries cooperating with the U.S.

Meanwhile, the government is maintaining a cautious stance, stating that "various troop deployment options are being reviewed, but nothing has been finalized yet."

However, as the U.S. side continuously demands the deployment of resources in the region, the government's calculations are expected to grow even more complicated.

(Produced by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Lee 의선 | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.