The Iranian Embassy in Seoul has distanced itself from a report by Iran's state-run Press TV claiming that "Iran targeted a Korean vessel for violating maritime regulations," saying it was "merely commentary from an external analyst."
"We have not received any official or verified information confirming Iran's involvement in the incident involving the Korean vessel," the Iranian Embassy in Seoul said on Tuesday.
The HMM Nuri, which suffered an explosion and fire while in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, is currently undergoing towing operations and will be moved to a dry dock at the Port of Dubai for an investigation into the cause. The Korean government is preparing its investigation by dispatching a team comprising three investigators from the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal and four forensic experts from the National Fire Agency.
"Amid sensitive regional circumstances, media speculation and unverified claims should be handled cautiously until credible official investigation results are announced," the Iranian Embassy said. "Any interpretations and analyses reported in media outlets should not be regarded as official positions."
Earlier, the Korean government stated that "establishing the facts and determining the cause comes first." A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official told reporters, "We will not assess the reporting by Iran's state media," adding, "We will review the investigation results and consider various circumstances."
