South Korea denounces assault on cargo vessel in Strait of Hormuz

South Korea has strongly criticized an incident targeting a cargo ship run by a Korean operator on 4 May in the Strait of Hormuz, stating it will take action after pinpointing the perpetrator.

The ship Namu, managed by HMM Co., complied fully with all regulations in the UAE-adjacent waters, marking this as an unjustified strike on a commercial ship, according to an official.

"We denounce this act in the strongest possible terms," Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's presidential national security advisor, stated to journalists.

"Further probes will help us determine the responsible entity, the nature of the projectile, and its dimensions."

South Korea's defense minister Ahn Gyu-back heads to Washington on Monday for discussions with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Topics may include joint efforts to secure navigation freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, whose partial shutdown sparks fears of an energy crunch in South Korea's export-reliant economy. The US has called on allies to assist in clearing the strait, facing limited support thus far.

Following US-Israeli operations, Iran has restricted access to the strait for most vessels, causing global economic strain since it handles roughly 20% of worldwide oil transport plus key gas, products, and fertilizers.

Al Jazeera reports remarks from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei regarding Tehran's war-ending proposal, which the US has firmly rebuffed.

"Calling for war cessation, removal of the (US) blockade and piracy, plus release of Iranian funds frozen unfairly in banks under US influence," Baghaei stated.

"Guaranteed safe transit via the Strait of Hormuz, regional security including in Lebanon - these form Iran's reasonable and constructive package for stability," he continued.

"We fight when compelled and pursue diplomacy when viable," Baghaei added during a briefing.

He labeled US conditions "unrealistic" and blamed Trump's dismissal of Iran's reply for eroding regional calm.

Julian Borger

Reported US terms for nuclear discussions featured a 20-year halt on Iranian uranium enrichment; shipping Iran's highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile abroad, perhaps to the US, for potential weapon use; and demolishing Iranian nuclear sites.

Per the Wall Street Journal, Iran's rebuttal proposed a briefer pause, partial HEU export with the balance diluted, and rejected site dismantlement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously cautioned that conflict persists while Iran retains HEU stocks.

"It continues because nuclear material - enriched uranium - remains in Iran. Enrichment facilities must be eliminated," he said on CBS's 60 Minutes, from a pre-air excerpt.

On HEU extraction, Netanyahu advised: "Enter and retrieve it," ideally via agreement. He noted Trump expressed interest in doing so.

In another talk, Trump seemed less urgent about the HEU, stored deeply in central Iranian mountains per IAEA reports, suggesting satellite monitoring suffices currently.

Trump Dismisses Iran's Reply to US Peace Plan as Tehran Signals Readiness to Counter US Strikes

Live updates resume on the US-Israeli campaign against Iran after President Donald Trump branded Tehran's response to the US peace offer "completely unacceptable," hinting at renewed hostilities.

Iran vowed forceful retaliation to fresh US attacks and opposition to additional foreign warships in the Strait of Hormuz.

An April ceasefire to enable negotiations has held mostly, amid sporadic clashes and strikes in the vital strait, which Iran keeps largely sealed post-February US-Israel strikes.

The US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports from 13 April, reporting 61 commercial ships repelled and four neutralized.

Iranian media say Tehran's counteroffer sought US sanction relief, blockade end, immediate war halt, and assurances against future assaults.

On Truth Social, Trump posted: "Just reviewed Iran's so-called representatives' reply. Not good - completely unacceptable."

The US proposal from a week prior, as colleague Julian Borger details, was a concise one-page, 14-point memorandum to restore strait access and outline nuclear talks.

Trump informed Axios of a call with ally Netanyahu on the matter. "Great conversation. Strong bond," he said, adding the Iran talks are "my domain, not shared."

Netanyahu stressed ongoing war due to Iran's HEU stockpile usable for warheads.