New Delhi, May 5: U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of targeting certain countries in relation to ship movements, referencing ‘Project Freedom.’ He has called for South Korea to join this initiative.
In a statement regarding maritime security, Trump expressed concern over the movement of ships and highlighted that Iran has targeted some unidentified nations.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, “Iran has targeted ship movements related to ‘Project Freedom,’ including a South Korean cargo ship. Perhaps it is time for South Korea to join this mission. We have downed seven small boats, or as they prefer to call them, ‘fast’ boats. That is all they have left. Aside from the South Korean ship, no other vessels passing through the Strait have sustained damage. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Keen, will hold a news conference tomorrow morning. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
This incident follows an explosion on a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, which resulted in a fire. South Korean officials have confirmed potential attacks on their ship, and an investigation is currently underway.
The ministry is also trying to ascertain the extent of the damage to the ship and identify those responsible. A foreign ministry official stated that their consular affairs team is verifying whether an attack occurred on the South Korean vessel. So far, they have preliminarily confirmed that no injuries have been reported among their citizens.
According to Yonhap News Agency, if confirmed, this would be the first attack on a South Korean-flagged ship in this crucial waterway. Tensions in the region have escalated following attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel, leading to a near closure of this maritime route.
On the same day, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) condemned a drone attack by Iran on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. This incident occurred as the U.S. was preparing operations to ensure the safe passage of ships through this waterway.
According to the UAE’s state oil company ADNOC, the MV Barakah tanker was attacked by two drones near the coast of Oman. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and the vessel was empty at the time.
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