South Korea official says unlikely anyone but Iran behind Hormuz ship attack, Yonhap reports

SEOUL, May 14 (Reuters) – A senior official in Seoul said on Thursday that it was unlikely that an organization other than Iran was responsible for the attack on a South Korean cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz, Yonhap news agency reported.

Yonhap quoted a senior foreign ministry official as telling reporters that South Korea was analyzing intelligence shared by the US regarding the attack on South Korean carrier ‌HMM’s Namu ship on May 4, which caused a fire and damaged the lower stern hull.

“I believe that once we complete the investigation and present the evidence, the Iranian side will respond appropriately,” the official said.

South Korea’s foreign ministry could not immediately confirm the official’s comments.

Seoul sent expert teams to Dubai to conduct a forensic investigation into the damage to the ship, where the Namu was inspected ahead of planned repairs.

Iran had previously denied responsibility for the attack, which left a strong impact on the side of the ship, and has since declined to comment further while Seoul continues its investigation.

US President Donald Trump said Iran opened fire on the South Korean ship shortly after the incident and called on Seoul to join US-led efforts to secure ship passage through the strait.

(Reporting by Jack Kim, Editing by Ed Davies)