TEHRAN: Iran warned Ukraine on Sunday that it would respond after Tehran accused Kyiv of carrying out a deadly attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strike killed an Iranian sailor and called the incident a violation of international law.
“Zelenskyy has attacked an Iranian commercial vessel, killing a sailor,” Araghchi said in a post on X, adding that the action “cannot go unanswered.”
He said he raised the issue during phone calls with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the attack caused the vessel to explode, killing one sailor and injuring several others. Tehran also said the incident violated the UN Charter and summoned Ukraine’s charge d’affaires in Tehran to lodge a formal protest.
Why Did Ukraine Target the Iranian-Linked Vessel in the Caspian Sea?
The accusations followed remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said Kyiv had carried out long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea targeting vessels involved in military cargo shipments linked to Iran and Russia.
Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had achieved “very strong results” through long-range strikes in the region, including attacks on vessels used for military logistics and a Russian warship.
Ukraine’s intelligence services said drone strikes had targeted cargo vessels under international sanctions that were allegedly used to transport military equipment between Iran and Russia.
Kyiv has accused Tehran of supporting Russia’s war effort by providing military assistance, while Iran has denied direct involvement in the conflict.
Will Iran Escalate After the Caspian Sea Attack?
Iran said it had remained neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war and rejected allegations that it was involved in supplying military equipment for Moscow.
“The Islamic Republic has never intervened in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The incident marks a new point of tension between Tehran and Kyiv, as Ukraine expands strikes beyond traditional battle zones to disrupt networks it says support Russia’s military operations.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not specify what form any response would take but said the attack would not be left unanswered.
The Ukrainian government has not publicly responded to Iran’s accusations.