Saeid Kozechi, Iran's ambassador to Korea, said of the government's announcement that the means used to attack the carrier NAMU of Korean shipping company HMM was likely an Iran-made anti-ship missile, "Iran denies all of this," adding, "There was absolutely no involvement."
After being summoned on the 27th and meeting with First Vice Minister Park Yoon-joo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Kozechi said, "Personally, I regret the damage to the Korean vessel," and stated accordingly.
Ambassador Kozechi said, "We must beware of the false-flag operations of hostile countries." He then mentioned the death of a student in an airstrike at an elementary school in Iran, saying, "We cannot rule out the possibility that such incidents occur due to the United States' deceptive operations." In other words, someone posing as Iranians could have attacked the NAMU.
Ambassador Kozechi said, "The tensions unfolding in the Middle East now are due to the U.S. administration and its aggression," adding, "Iran is very interested in ensuring that vessels pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz."
The government said that the unidentified flying object that attacked the NAMU that day was likely a Noor-series anti-ship missile developed in Iran. Analysis of the debris, among other materials, found that the engine resembled an Iran-made turbojet engine, and that markings presumed to be those of an Iranian manufacturer were identified on components. The government summoned Ambassador Kozechi to convey a protest over the attack on the vessel.