SEOUL: Iran’s embassy denied on Thursday (Could 7) that its armed forces had been concerned in an explosion that struck a South Korean vessel within the Strait of Hormuz this week.
The blast and fireplace occurred on the Panama-flagged HMM Namu, a cargo ship carrying 24 crew members, on Monday.
US President Donald Trump later claimed that Iran had “taken some pictures” on the vessel and urged South Korea to hitch American operations aimed toward restoring regular transport by way of the nearly closed waterway.
Tehran’s embassy mentioned in a press release on Thursday that it “firmly rejects and categorically denies any allegations concerning the involvement of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran within the incident involving injury to a Korean vessel within the Strait of Hormuz”.
Since america and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, Tehran “has repeatedly emphasised that the Strait of Hormuz constitutes an integral a part of its defensive geography”, the embassy mentioned.
“Accordingly, protected passage by way of the Strait of Hormuz requires full compliance with relevant laws,” it mentioned.
“Underneath such circumstances, any disregard for the declared necessities and operational realities … could result in unintended incidents.
“Duty for such penalties rests with these events that proceed with transit or actions within the space with out due regard to those issues.”
South Korea mentioned after Trump’s remarks that it might “review its position” on becoming a member of US operations to escort ships within the strait.
However Nationwide Safety Adviser Wi Sung-lac mentioned on Wednesday that the suspension of the programme, named “Mission Freedom”, had made the evaluate pointless.
