An explosion followed by a fire was reported on a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea is currently verifying reports of a possible attack on the vessel, officials said Monday.
"The consular affairs bureau is verifying information that a South Korean vessel came under attack. We have preliminarily confirmed that there are no casualties among our nationals," a foreign ministry official said. The ministry is also working to determine the extent of the damage to the vessel and identify those responsible, he added.
If confirmed, it would mark the first attack on a South Korean-flagged vessel stranded in the strait since the key waterway was effectively shut down in late February following US-Israeli strikes on Iran that triggered the regional crisis, Yonhap news agency reported.
About 2,000 vessels remain stranded in the strait, including 26 South Korean-flagged ships. The incident comes amid heightened tensions after United States launched an operation dubbed "Project Freedom," aimed at freeing ships stuck in the narrow waterway, a move Iran denounced as a violation of the ceasefire.
Donald Trump had earlier extended a ceasefire deadline in early April, urging Iran to present a new peace proposal while increasing pressure on Tehran through naval blockades and economic sanctions. However, peace talks remain stalled after the first direct meeting between the two sides last month ended without agreement.
The blockade has significantly disrupted global supplies of energy and other goods, as nearly 20 per cent of the world's oil and natural gas trade typically passes through the strait.
Meanwhile, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday that two US commercial ships had successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
"US Navy guided-missile destroyers are currently operating in the Arabian Gulf after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom," CENTCOM said in a post on X. "American forces are actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping. As a first step, two US-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey," it added.
In a further escalation, the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had struck a US Navy frigate with two missiles after the vessel allegedly ignored Iranian warnings while attempting to pass through the strait near the southern port city of Jask, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
The report said the frigate was forced to retreat after being hit. However, a senior US official denied the claim, according to Axios, as cited by Xinhua news agency.
Iran has repeatedly warned that no movement is possible through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission, stating that violations would invite a decisive military response.
Responding to US efforts, Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that "any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive US army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz," according to the official IRNA news agency.
Iran tightened its grip on the strait from February 28, barring safe passage to vessels linked to Israel and the United States following joint strikes on Iranian territory.
The United States, in turn, imposed its anti-Iran blockade after post-ceasefire negotiations held on April 11 and 12 failed to yield an agreement, further intensifying the standoff in one of the world's most critical maritime corridors.
(With inputs from IANS)
