Iran on Thursday denied any involvement by its armed forces in the explosion that targeted a South Korean-linked vessel in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.

In a statement issued by the Iranian Embassy in Seoul, Tehran said it “strongly rejects and categorically denies any allegations regarding the involvement of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the incident that caused damage to a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The embassy explained that “Tehran has repeatedly affirmed since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran in late February that the Strait of Hormuz constitutes an integral part of its defensive geography.”

It added that “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz therefore requires full compliance with the applicable regulations. Under such circumstances, any disregard for the declared requirements and operational realities may lead to unintended incidents.”

The embassy further stated that “responsibility for such consequences lies with the parties that proceed with transportation operations or activities in the area without giving due consideration to these factors.”

The explosion, which was followed by a fire, occurred on board the Panama-flagged cargo ship HMM Maru on Monday. The vessel was carrying a crew of 24 people.

Following the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran had “fired some shots” at the vessel and called on South Korea to join American-led operations aimed at restoring normal navigation through the blocked waterway.

After Trump’s remarks, South Korea announced that it would conduct “a review of its position” regarding participation in American operations in the Strait of Hormuz. However, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Wednesday that the suspension of “Project Freedom” had rendered such participation unnecessary.