Iran Warns Ukraine Attack on Commercial Ship ‘Will Not Go Unanswered’

Tehran, July 27-026 : Iran has issued a strong warning following the alleged Ukrainian attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, with Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi declaring that the incident “cannot go unanswered” and accusing Kyiv of violating international law.

In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi alleged that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had ordered “a blatant violation of the UN Charter” and claimed the attack was carried out “at Israel’s behest” in an attempt to draw Europe deeper into the ongoing regional conflict.

The Iranian Foreign Minister said he had conveyed Tehran’s position during separate telephone conversations with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the weekend. He stressed that Iran would not allow the attack to go unanswered and would pursue appropriate measures.

According to a statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Araghchi discussed the latest regional developments with Kallas on Saturday and strongly condemned the strike on the commercial vessel. He urged the European Union, the United Nations Security Council and the wider international community to hold those responsible, along with their alleged supporters, accountable for what Tehran described as an unlawful act.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the security situation in the Strait of Hormuz, underlining the importance of diplomatic initiatives to reduce regional tensions and ensure stability in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

Separately, Iran summoned Ukraine’s charge d’affaires in Tehran on Saturday to lodge a formal diplomatic protest. During the meeting, Iranian officials handed over a note condemning the incident as a “hostile and criminal act” and demanded an explanation from the Ukrainian side.

Iranian authorities said the attack occurred at around 3 a.m. local time on Saturday, triggering an explosion aboard the vessel. According to the Foreign Ministry, one sailor was killed in the incident.

The semi-official Mehr News Agency later reported that three additional crew members were injured. Citing Gilan Province Governor Hadi Haghshenas, the report said the steel-laden cargo vessel was travelling from Astrakhan Port in Russia to Anzali Port in northern Iran when it came under attack.

The strike reportedly caused extensive damage to the ship’s bridge, leaving the vessel unable to continue its voyage. Iranian officials said the case would be pursued through both domestic legal channels and international forums.

Meanwhile, President Zelensky stated on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had targeted a Russian warship and vessels allegedly involved in transporting Iran-linked military cargo in the Caspian Sea. The statement has further heightened tensions between Tehran and Kyiv, adding another dimension to the wider geopolitical confrontation involving Russia, Ukraine and regional powers.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)