SEOUL, May 17 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held phone talks with his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday to discuss the recent Middle East situation, bilateral ties, and the safety and passage of South Korean vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the South Korean foreign ministry said.

Noting that South Korea was conducting an additional investigation into the recent attack on the South Korean-operated vessel HMM NAMU, Cho asked the Iranian side to state its position on the facts of the case, and stressed the importance of the safety and freedom of navigation for all vessels, including South Korean ships, in the Strait of Hormuz.

A South Korean joint government investigation team earlier confirmed that two unidentified aerial objects struck the stern of the Panamanian-flagged vessel in the strait on May 4, with all 24 crew members aboard confirmed unharmed.

Araghchi elaborated on Iran's position on the current Middle East situation and said safe passage in the strait should be restored, while calling for an early end to the standoff there.

The two ministers agreed to maintain communication over the safety of South Korean vessels and crew members in the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry said. ■