Hormuz Strait blockade, South Korea secures 270 million barrels of crude oil

South Korea (South Korea) has secured 273 million barrels of crude oil from Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kazakhstan, according to the country's presidential chief of staff.

"273 million barrels of crude oil, based on last year's consumption level, are enough to sustain the economy for more than three months in normal operating conditions without the need for additional emergency measures," Kang Hoon-sik told reporters quoted by Al Jazeera, Wednesday, April 15.

Kang added that South Korea had also secured 2.1 million tons of naphtha, a mixture of flammable liquid hydrocarbons, during the same period.

The US-Israeli war against Iran has had a severe impact on South Korea. About 70 percent of South Korea's crude oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

The war against Iran began with a massive US-Israeli attack on Tehran on February 28, 2026. The impact of the devastation experienced, made Iran impose the Strait of Hormuz as an area with high-level surveillance as a result of energy-carrying ships being held in the Gulf region.

After 40 days of mutual attacks, a two-week ceasefire was created, followed by US-Iranian peace talks allowing a permanent agreement in Islamabad, Pakistan.

However, the 21-hour peace talks since Saturday, April 11, 2026, have stalled without producing an agreement.