Experts conducted an initial forensic analysis of the damage ​to the port stern, a Blue House official said. The attack had led ​to a fire in the vessel’s engine room.

Namu, the vessel ⁠operated by the shipper HMM Co, was not in violation of any ​rules in effect at the time in the waters off the United Arab ​Emirates, and it was a case of an attack against a commercial vessel that cannot be justified, the official said.

“We condemn this in the strongest terms,” Wi Sung-lac, ​the South Korean presidential national security adviser, told a news briefing. Damage ​to the vessel was identified in the forensic inspection by South Korean officials and experts ‌at ⁠a port in Dubai, Wi said.

The damage was not known earlier following the attack due to its position in the lower port stern, according to a Blue House official.

It was not known what role, if any, Iran may ​have had in ​the attack, the official ⁠said.

Tehran has previously denied any responsibility for the attack that involved a strong impact on the side of ​the vessel.

On Monday, the Iranian embassy in South Korea ​said in ⁠a statement it did not have any position on the matter but would announce if there was any update or official position.

US President Donald Trump said ⁠soon ​after the incident that Iran had fired ​at the South Korean vessel, and urged Seoul to join US-led efforts to secure shipping through ​the strait.