U.S.-Iran talks stalled and Hormuz remains uncertain SEOUL, June 22 (AJP) -The fate of the Strait of Hormuz remains uncertain as fragile negotiations between the United States and Iran teeter on the brink of collapse, raising the risk of another energy shock for a global economy still grappling with the worst inflationary aftermath since the pandemic. Talks in Switzerland broke down after Iranian negotiators walked out in protest over fresh threats from President Donald Trump, underscoring the fragility of a memorandum of understandin June 22, 2026

Trump pressures Iran to complete peace deal SEOUL, June 20 (AJP) - United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Tehran, warning that Washington could resume military actions if a final agreement is not reached within a strict 60-day window. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews on Friday (local time), Trump pressured Iran to solidify a recent memorandum of understanding into a permanent treaty or face severe consequences. The remarks signal a high-stakes push by Washington to conclude denuclearization talks fo June 20, 2026

Montenegro seeks to adopt Kazakh digital governance model SEOUL, June 20 (AJP) - Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana on June 19 to discuss adopting the digital transformation technologies of Kazakhstan to modernize his country's public administration. According to the Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the talks mark a significant shift in international diplomacy as European nations increasingly seek administrative blueprints from emerging technological hubs outside the We June 20, 2026

Energy watchdog warns looming transit fees in Hormuz SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - A temporary truce between the United States and Iran has reopened the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, providing a critical lifeline to energy-dependent manufacturing hubs in South Korea and Southeast Asia. The International Energy Agency warned Thursday (local time) that despite the immediate relief, the crisis has permanently altered the global energy map. The unblocking of the maritime chokepoint eases a severe bottleneck for production-based Asian economies June 19, 2026

Iran opens Hormuz transit applications, paving way for 24 Korean ships SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - Iran has begun accepting transit applications from vessels stranded inside the Strait of Hormuz under its agreement to end the war with the U.S., paving the way for 24 stranded Korean-related ships to leave the waterway. Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority, or PGSA, began receiving applications through its website, according to industry sources Friday. The move follows a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the U.S. that calls for the strait June 19, 2026

Many analysts see Iran, not Washington, as the strategic winner of the war SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - President Donald Trump hailed the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding as a diplomatic victory that would prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons and restore stability to global energy markets. Many international relations scholars and security analysts see it differently. Several experts interviewed by AJP said the 109-day conflict ultimately strengthened Iran's strategic leverage, exposed limits to American military power and accelerated shif June 18, 2026

The Iran war by the numbers: 109 days down, 60 days to go SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - One hundred and nine days after the United States and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran, Washington and Tehran unveiled a 14-point memorandum intended to end the war. The document calls for an immediate halt to hostilities, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and negotiations toward a final agreement. It also outlines sanctions relief and a proposed $300 billion investment fund to rebuild Iran's economy. Yet the document postpones r June 18, 2026

Michelle Steel confirmed as US Ambassador to Seoul SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - Rep. Michelle Steel was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday as ambassador to South Korea, filling a diplomatic post that has been vacant for more than a year. The Senate approved Steel's nomination by a vote of 55-39, completing the confirmation process a little more than two months after President Donald Trump nominated her on April 13. Steel will formally take up the position after receiving her commission from Trump and completing diplomatic pr June 18, 2026

Hormuz reopens, nuclear unanswered: what's new in the U.S.-Iran deal? SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - The U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) stops the shooting and reopens the Strait of Hormuz toll-free at least for the next 60 days, but leaves the nuclear endgame unresolved and a $300 billion question hanging over who picks up the war tab. The MoU has entered into force following an electronic signing by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei and a June 18, 2026

Korean defense stocks stay hot as Gulf war exposes limits of U.S. shield SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - The war in the Gulf is winding down, but South Korean defense stocks remain hot as Gulf states would come out from the conflict with depleted air-defense inventories and questions about heavy reliance on U.S. weapons systems. Hanwha Aerospace closed 3.47 percent higher at 1,224,000 won on Wednesday, extending its weekly gain to 21 percent. Shares of LIG Defense & Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Systems slipped slightly from a day earlier after recent r June 17, 2026