Iranian Embassy denies attacking Korean ship, rebutting Trump's claim

HMM Namu, the cargo ship operated by HMM, is seen during a launching ceremony in Guangzhou, China, in this September 2025 photo. The ship sustained an explosion and fire in the Strait of Hormuz, Monday. The cause of the incident is under investigation. Captured from Korean Register Webzine

Iran formally denied any involvement in the explosion on a Korean cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, as U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the ship was attacked by Iran because it attempted to navigate the strait without U.S. protection.

The denial came as the shipping company, its union and the Korean government remained cautious about the cause of the incident.

"The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran firmly rejects and categorically denies any allegations regarding the involvement of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the incident involving damage to a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz," the Iranian Embassy in Seoul said in a statement Wednesday.

The statement followed Trump's remarks Tuesday at a White House event: “Their ship was shot at. They were not in the cavalcade of ships they had. They decided to go it alone and their ship got hell knocked out of it yesterday, but they (Iran) didn't shoot the ships that were guarded by us.”

Trump used the incident to renew calls for Korea to join U.S.-led maritime initiatives including the Maritime Freedom Construct (MFC) and Project Freedom, aimed at securing freedom of navigation and guarding ships out of the strait.

Seoul has also remained cautious about the cause of the fire on the ship, HMM Namu. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said it is uncertain whether the ship was damaged by an attack.

“The possibility of an attack was raised at the early stage of the fire and we accordingly considered holding a working-level meeting at the National Security Council (NSC),” Wi said during a press briefing.

“After further reviewing additional information, it appeared uncertain that the cause was from an attack," he said, adding that this is why the meeting was not held. "There was no report of sinking or tipping of the ship."

Wi said the government is currently working to assess the damage and determine what caused it.

“We have been monitoring the situation while responding through other communication channels. At the same time, we have been in contact via diplomatic channels with the U.S., UAE, Iran and other relevant countries,” he added.

The vessel is being towed to Dubai, where it is expected to arrive Thursday for inspection, with a joint investigation team to be dispatched.

On the question of joining U.S.-led maritime operations, Wi said no further review of Project Freedom is needed as Washington announced Tuesday it was halting the initiative in favor of resuming negotiations with Iran.

“The MFC initiative appears to be a broader approach aimed at stabilizing the strait and ensuring freedom of navigation, while Project Freedom seems to be an operational effort to assist immediate passage through the strait, but it is not certain yet,” Wi said.

President Lee Jae Myung, who was briefed Wednesday about the situation by Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, did not comment further on the matter, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

An employee of HMM, the operator of the cargo ship that caught fire inside the Strait of Hormuz, talks on the phone at the company headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Shipping company says vessel was anchored

HMM, the Korean shipping company that operates the Panama-flagged cargo ship, also rebutted Trump’s claim that the vessel was sailing independently, saying HMM Namu was anchored at the time and had made no attempt to exit the strait.

“I don’t know why Trump said that, but the ship was anchored and did not attempt to leave the strait for the last two months,” an HMM communication official told The Korea Times.

“Ships from around the world had gathered near Dubai to quickly leave through the strait in case the war ended. The explosion occurred under such circumstances,” the official added, while denying that the ship was moving independently when the explosion occurred.

HMM's labor union leader also said the ship had been anchored when it sustained the damage.

“What Trump said is far from the truth … Even though the U.S. launched Project Freedom, it does not guarantee the safety of ships, so vessels didn't attempt to pass through the strait immediately," Jeon Jeong-geun, the union leader, said on a local radio show.

“It was reported that there is no hull damage to the ship or water leakage.”