Iran has condemned a Ukrainian strike on one of its commercial vessels in the Caspian Sea, describing the attack as a breach of international law and warning of possible retaliation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the assault, which led to the explosion of the vessel and resulted in one sailor's death and injuries to others, "cannot go unanswered." He accused Israel of instigating the attack to involve Europe in the ongoing conflict.
The incident occurred on Saturday when Ukraine targeted what it identified as Russian military ships and vessels transporting Iranian-linked military cargo. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that it has not participated in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Further escalating tensions, Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, warned that Ukraine might face consequences for the strike, calling it a "miscalculated" action that would not be ignored.
In response to the incident, Iran summoned Ukraine's charge d’affaires in Tehran to protest the "hostile and criminal act." Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s successful long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea, targeting vessels involved in military cargo shipments linked to Iran and a Russian warship.
Zelenskyy also accused Russia of providing Iran with military intelligence gathered via satellite surveillance of Gulf states and US facilities, which allegedly supports Iranian operations.
Since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv has accused Tehran of supplying Moscow with drones used in air attacks on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine has also extended military support to Gulf countries facing Iranian drone threats.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed condolences for the sailor’s death and relayed Iran’s call for an end to provocative actions by Kyiv. He noted ongoing diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East.
