In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said Iran, during vessel movements tied to an operation he called the “Liberation Project,” fired multiple times at ships from countries not involved, including a South Korean cargo ship.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean government earlier said it had identified circumstances suggesting an explosion incident on an HMM vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz and was investigating the exact cause. Trump effectively pointed to Iran as being behind that incident. Iran had not issued an official response as of Sunday.
“South Korea also seems to have reached the point where it should participate in this operation,” Trump wrote. His remarks were widely seen as pressing Seoul to join U.S.-led efforts to protect and escort shipping in the strait, given the reported damage to a South Korean vessel.
Trump previously, on March 14, publicly asked South Korea, China, Japan, Britain and France to dispatch warships. He has argued that Iran’s attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz is severely affecting global energy supply and that major countries should help protect vessels.
He has also voiced dissatisfaction after allies, including South Korea and Japan where large numbers of U.S. troops are stationed, did not immediately signal willingness to take part.
If it is ultimately confirmed that the damage to the South Korean ship resulted from an Iranian attack, the government is expected to face a more complicated decision between protecting its vessels stranded in the area and responding to U.S. demands to join the military operation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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