US President Donald Trump speaks about the conflict in Iran in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kent Nishimura / AFP)
Iran has denied accusations that it attacked a South Korean cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, as United States President Donald Trump warned that Washington could resume military strikes if ongoing negotiations collapse.
The Iranian Embassy in Seoul on Thursday dismissed claims linking Tehran to an explosion aboard the Panama-flagged cargo ship, HMM Namu, which caught fire earlier this week while passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz with 24 crew members onboard.
In a statement, the embassy described the allegations as “baseless” and insisted that Iran’s armed forces had no involvement in the incident.
However, Trump alleged that Iran had “taken some shots” at the vessel and called on South Korea to support efforts led by the United States to secure shipping activities in the region.
Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have remained high since the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran escalated in late February. The confrontation triggered retaliatory attacks across parts of the Middle East and disrupted movement through one of the world’s busiest oil shipping routes, causing concerns in global energy markets.
Despite renewed diplomatic efforts, uncertainty still surrounds possible peace talks between Washington and Tehran. Trump expressed optimism that an agreement to end hostilities was achievable, saying a deal remained “very possible.”
The US President nevertheless warned that military action could resume if negotiations fail to produce results.
Meanwhile, Iran has yet to officially respond to a fresh proposal from Washington. Tehran’s lead negotiator accused the United States of attempting to force what he described as the “surrender” of the Islamic Republic.
There are growing indications that both sides may return to the negotiating table after weeks of stalled discussions. The development follows Trump’s decision to suspend a brief military operation aimed at reopening shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, citing hopes for diplomatic progress.
