Is Iran Behind the Recent Attack on Thai Cargo Ship in Hormuz Strait?

[Anchor] The government says investigators increasingly suspect Iran carried out the attack on the cargo ship Namu in the Strait of Hormuz and are conducting a forensic probe. Because attackers are seldom definitively identified in such incidents, officials are concentrating on gathering strong, verifiable evidence. This is Park Su-ju. [Reporter] The vessel shown is a Thai freighter that was struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz in March. Authorities have not confirmed whether the weapon was a drone or a missile, but the impact site and the ripped hull closely resemble the damage sustained by the Namu when it was hit on the 4th. At the time, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — which asserts control over the Strait of Hormuz — publicly claimed responsibility for striking the Thai freighter. After three Thai nationals were killed, Thailand lodged protests and reached an agreement with Iran to secure safe passage for Thai tankers through the strait. South Korean investigators looking into the Namu incident are placing significant weight on an Iranian role. A senior foreign ministry official said it is not reasonable to rule out Iranian responsibility and added that if investigators compile and present convincing evidence, Iran would be expected to respond appropriately in some form. Officials interpret that to mean Iran is the leading suspect, but investigators need clear, indisputable proof before making a definitive attribution. According to the foreign ministry, the Namu strike was the 33rd attack on a civilian vessel since hostilities involving Iran began, yet it remains rare for perpetrators to claim responsibility or to be immediately identified. Some analysts caution that even if investigators trace the attacking platform back to Iran, it may still be difficult to determine whether the strike was carried out by Iran’s regular military or by affiliated militias. Others say that type of attribution is largely a matter of time. 「Shin Jong-woo / Secretary-General, Korea Defense and Security Forum」 Militias are organizations that control operations internally. In the Strait of Hormuz, the only force that attacks merchant shipping is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. We need to demonstrate that the weapon system is tied to the IRGC and then obtain a legitimate commitment to prevent further attacks. Alongside a detailed investigation, the government will monitor developments in the Iran conflict and weigh its diplomatic options. This is Park Su-ju for Yonhap News TV. [Video editing: Park Sang-gyu] [Graphics: Kang Seong-hoon] For news tips or inquiries: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23 Park Su-ju (sooju@yna.co.kr)