South Korean and Iranian Foreign Ministers Hold Talks: "Request for Iran’s Position on Facts of Namuhou Attack"

On May 17, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, requesting that Iran clarify its position regarding the facts surrounding the attack on a Korean vessel. This was the first official communication with the Iranian side since the explosion and fire occurred aboard the HMM Namuhou in the Strait of Hormuz.

The photo shows a 5-meter-wide and 7-meter-deep hole confirmed at the lower hull of the damaged Namuho vessel. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the call, Minister Cho explained that the South Korean government is conducting an additional investigation into the attack on the Namuhou and requested Iran's position regarding the facts of the incident. He also stressed that the safety and free navigation of all vessels, including those from Korea, must be guaranteed in the Strait of Hormuz.

Minister Araghchi explained the Iranian government's stance on the recent situation in the Middle East and agreed that "safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be restored." He also stated that the standoff in the Hormuz waters should be resolved as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Both ministers agreed that the two sides will continue communication to ensure the safety of our vessels and crew in the Strait of Hormuz."

This call was the first between the two ministers since the results of the investigation on May 4, which found that the explosion aboard the Namuhou was caused by two unidentified flying objects. Previously, Minister Cho had held three phone calls with Minister Araghchi since the outbreak of the Iran war.

The government is leaning toward the possibility that Iran was responsible for the attack on the Namuhou, but maintains that appropriate action will be taken once the perpetrator is confirmed through a thorough investigation. A senior government official stated, "It is not reasonable to assume that any actor other than Iran was responsible for the attack," adding, "There were no pirates in the vicinity." He also said, "If the perpetrator is confirmed, a corresponding diplomatic offensive will be necessary."

As the debris from the flying object arrived in Korea the previous day, it is expected that a certain degree of facts will be clarified once the technical analysis is completed.

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