WANA (May 07) – Iran’s embassy in Seoul has firmly denied allegations that the Islamic Republic was involved in an explosion and fire aboard a South Korean-linked vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the claims “groundless.”

 

In an official statement released on Thursday, the embassy said Iranian armed forces had no role in the incident involving the cargo ship NAMU, operated by South Korean shipping company HMM and sailing under the Panamanian flag.

 

The vessel was caught up in heightened regional tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz when an explosion and fire broke out in its engine room late Monday night. All 24 crew members, including six South Korean nationals, were reported safe, and the fire was successfully contained.

 

In its statement, the Iranian embassy stressed that since the U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February, the Strait of Hormuz has become “an inseparable part of Iran’s defensive geography.”

 

The statement also carried a warning tone, saying safe passage through the strategic waterway requires “full compliance with maritime regulations, attention to issued warnings, and coordination with relevant authorities,” adding that failure to do so could lead to “unintended incidents.”

 

The remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Iran had “fired several shots” at the vessel and other targets, while urging South Korea to join a so-called “freedom” initiative aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz — a project Washington later appeared to quietly step back from.

 

South Korean authorities have meanwhile said the exact cause of the incident will only be determined after the ship is towed to Dubai for technical inspections. A joint investigative team of maritime and fire experts from South Korea has reportedly been dispatched to Dubai to participate in the probe.