The Iranian government has not ruled out the possibility that a "false flag" operation by a third party was behind the attack on the "Namu" vessel, operated by South Korea's HMM company.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the identity of the forces behind the event raises serious questions and has been under close scrutiny since the incident occurred. "We have emphasized that this incident, like any other in the region, will be investigated. There are forces interested in regional instability," Baghaei noted, adding that "false flag" operations remain a real threat that must be carefully evaluated.
The Panama-flagged vessel experienced an explosion and fire on May 4 while anchored off the coast of the UAE, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Although there were 24 crew members on board at the time of the blast, no injuries were reported. Following the incident, the ship was towed to a UAE port for a detailed investigation by a team of international experts. US President Donald Trump suggested potential Iranian involvement in the incident and called on South Korea to join security initiatives in the region. However, the Iranian embassy in Seoul has categorically denied these claims, stating that the Iranian military had no connection to the event.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most vital maritime chokepoints, serving as the primary transit route for approximately one-fifth of the world's total oil consumption. Maritime security in this region is a matter of global economic significance, as any disruption to shipping can lead to immediate volatility in international energy markets. This latest incident occurs amid heightened geopolitical tensions, where the safety of commercial vessels has become a focal point for international diplomacy and regional security cooperation.
