Embassy of Iran in South Korea: "No Iranian Military Involvement in Korean Vessel Incident... Firmly Denied"

The Iranian side has strongly denied any possibility of deliberate armed intervention regarding the fire that broke out on a South Korean-flagged vessel anchored in the Strait of Hormuz.

Saide Kuzechi, Ambassador of Iran to Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

On May 6, the Embassy of Iran in South Korea issued an official statement, saying, "With regard to the incident involving damage to a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Republic of Iran firmly rejects and categorically denies any suspicions about the involvement of Iranian military forces."

However, the Iranian embassy emphasized that the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz is "different from the past" and did not rule out the possibility of unintended damage. The embassy stated, "The Strait of Hormuz is different from previous times, as it is a region experiencing heightened tensions due to the actions of hostile forces and their allies," adding, "It is clear that in an environment affected by military and security tensions, any disregard for announced requirements and actual operational conditions could lead to unintended incidents." The statement further noted, "Responsibility for the consequences rests with those parties who pass through or operate in the area without fully taking these considerations into account."

The Iranian side added, "For safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, it is required to fully comply with applicable regulations, pay careful attention to issued warnings, adhere to designated routes, and cooperate with the relevant authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran." The embassy continued, "We have consistently emphasized our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of maritime navigation in this region in accordance with international laws and regulations, and we will continue to do so in the future."

Previously, at approximately 8:40 p.m. (Korea Standard Time) on May 4, a fire broke out on the 'Namuho,' a vessel belonging to HMM, which was anchored and stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, due to an unidentified explosion. The government has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause, including the possibility of an attack. The damaged vessel will soon be towed to a nearby port in Dubai for inspection.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.