Amid reports that the country may be involved in a war against Iran, South Koreans gathered in front of the US embassy in Seoul and told their leaders to “stay away from war with Iran.”

Dozens of South Koreans on Wednesday urged their government not to send troops to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, calling it an “illegal war” by Washington.

Protesters held placards outside the large US embassy compound in Seoul that read “Do not join a war of aggression.”

US President Donald Trump has been pressuring his eastern ally South Korea to join a war with Iran for some time. Seoul had previously angered Trump by saying “no,” prompting the president to extend a hand of friendship to North Korea and oppose further military exercises involving South Korea.

Korean protesters chanted slogans such as “We cannot send our youth to the Sea of ​​Death” and called for their country to not participate in the US’s aggressive war against Iran.

South Korea announced on Friday that it was considering providing “assistance” to the US regarding the Strait of Hormuz, provided that the country’s own military readiness is not compromised. Iran has warned that any deployment of troops by South Korea would be “considered as direct support for the party responsible for the aggression and will have serious consequences.”

One protester at the rally, endorsing Tehran’s position, stressed that “as Iran has said, sending our troops to the region would be a direct participation in an illegal war.” He added that the US had violated many international laws in its war with Iran, including “the bombing of an elementary school and energy infrastructure.”

Trump, desperate to open the Strait of Hormuz, has asked his allies for help, but has been met with a “no” response from most of them. Many of America's allies believe that the war against Iran is "not their war" and prefer to stay away from escalating tensions. According to experts, Trump has now reached a "deadlock" in the war against Iran.