A South Korean government expert panel has concluded that the explosion and fire on the cargo ship Namu, operated by the Korean company HMM, were caused by an external force, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing a statement from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The investigation has established that an unknown object, classified as an aircraft, struck the stern of the vessel," the ministry stated. It clarified that there were two objects, as well as two impacts, which occurred within a minute of each other. The ministry added that the government would conduct further analysis of the debris from the incident site.

As a reminder, the Panama-flagged Namu was anchored in UAE waters in the Strait of Hormuz at the time of the explosion. The incident occurred on May 4, the day the American military mission "Project Freedom" began. There were 24 crew members on board, including six South Korean citizens. After the fire was extinguished, the vessel was towed to a Dubai port for a detailed investigation, supported by a team of South Korean experts.

Iran previously categorically denied the allegations. The Iranian Embassy in Seoul stated that it "strongly rejects and refutes any allegations of the Iranian Armed Forces' involvement in the incident." The diplomatic mission noted that the US actions have changed the security conditions for navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and emphasized the need for all vessels passing through to comply with established regulations and act in coordination with Iranian authorities.