Experts urge that Iran must be held accountable for civialian ship attack

May 29, 2026, 09:15 am

Defense experts urged the South Korean government to adopt a more decisive stance against Iran following the release of the official investigation into the attack on HMM's crude oil tanker, the Namoo.

On May 28, defense analysts emphasized that a firm diplomatic response is imperative in light of the government findings announced the previous day regarding the projectile that struck the vessel.

On Wednesday, the South Korean government announced that the projectile used in the attack was highly likely a Noor-series anti-ship missile developed by Iran. Technical analysis revealed that its engine bore a striking resemblance to Iranian-made turbojets, and certain fragments carried marks presumed to be engravings of an Iranian manufacturer.

However, despite noting that all evidence points toward Iran, the government maintained a cautious posture regarding the exact perpetrators or whether the strike was intentional. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Said Kouzechi to lodge a protest, the ambassador flatly denied any Iranian involvement.

"If the missile has been verified as Iranian, it should be regarded as an action by the Iranian government," said Kwon Yong-soo, a professor emeritus at Korea National Defense University. "Given its short maximum range, the launch flash would have made its point of origin highly visible. The government could clarify whether it was fired from land, a vessel, or a high-speed craft, but it remains ambiguous. If Iran claims it was not their doing, the burden of proof is on them to provide evidence."

Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, echoed this sentiment. "Every shred of evidence, including the retrieved components, indicates an Iranian anti-ship missile. Denial from the Iranian side lacks credibility," Yang noted. "Anti-ship missiles are advanced hardware operated exclusively by sovereign states, governments, and formal militaries. While Iran might have supplied missiles to militant factions like the Houthi rebels, the distance is far too great for them to have executed this strike. If the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched the missile and the Iranian government feigns ignorance, it only proves a severe lack of command and control within their own regime."

Criticism also emerged that the government's response fell short despite immediately summoning Ambassador Kouzechi. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official defended the move on Thursday, stating, "Summoning the Iranian ambassador is by no means an insignificant gesture; the act itself demonstrates our resolute stance. Dispatching two separate investigative teams, recovering the wreckage, publishing findings after a rigorous analysis by specialized institutions, and presenting these results to the counterpart country altogether constitute a grave diplomatic action."

In response, Yang countered, "Some might argue there is no need to court conflict with Iran. However, to justify such a passive approach, we must at least extract something from the Iranian government. Since the evidence points squarely at Iran, we should at the very least pressure them to guarantee the safe passage of our vessels. Failing to do even that amounts to a state abandoning its core responsibilities."

Lee Han-sol

#Iran #Crude oil tanker #Namoo