Explosion and fire reported on South Korean vessel in Strait of Hormuz

Seoul: An explosion followed by fire was reported on a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea is verifying reports of a possible attack on a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, 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 took place after Washington launched an operation dubbed “Project Freedom,” aimed at freeing the ships stranded in the narrow waterway, while Iran denounced the move as a violation of the ceasefire.

Trump extended a ceasefire deadline in early April, urging Iran to present a new peace proposal, while ramping up pressure on Tehran through naval blockades and economic sanctions.

Peace talks remain stalled after the first direct meeting between the two sides last month ended without agreement.

The blockade of the waterway has disrupted global supplies of energy and other goods, as about 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 wrote 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.

IANS