[72603] South Korea: Iranian missile hit a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz

Tensions in the Gulf: South Korea accuses Iran of attacking a cargo ship

The South Korean government announced on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, that according to official investigation findings, the attack on the cargo ship 'Namu' of the HMM company in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month was likely carried out using an Iranian-made anti-ship missile. According to Iran International reports, South Korean experts identified engine components similar to Iranian turbojet engines and missile parts resembling the 'Noor' or 'Qader' models.

Senior officials in Seoul's Foreign Ministry noted that they intend to summon the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic for a reprimand session and to file an official protest. As reported in Independent Iran News and Deutsche Welle Persian, South Korea demands that Tehran take responsible measures to prevent the recurrence of similar cases. However, authorities in Seoul clarified, as published in Al Arabiya, that it is difficult to determine at this stage whether the attack was intentional.

Conversely, official sources in Iran reject the accusations entirely. As reported in local news channels affiliated with the government's position, such as News Fouri and Khorasan Online, the Iranian ambassador to South Korea denied any connection to the incident and emphasized that Iran is not involved in the attack on the ship.

The incident occurred in a strategic waterway that has been reported as effectively closed since the start of the military conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran at the end of February. United States President Donald Trump addressed the event in the past and accused Iran of firing at the vessel, while calling on South Korea to join maritime security efforts led by Washington.