Ukraine attacked an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea: "Fueling the fire"
President Volodymyr Zelensky reported strikes on vessels used for military cargo shipments related to Iran, as well as a warship. Tehran confirmed that one commercial vessel was damaged and a crew member killed, labeling the attack an "act of aggression that threatens to further expand the scope of the war."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that his country carried out "long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea" as part of its war against Russia, targeting vessels used for "military cargo shipments related to Iran, as well as a warship." Zelensky did not provide further details on the specific Iranian ships involved.
This evening, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Ukraine had attacked an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea early in the morning. In an official statement, the ministry noted:
"We strongly condemn the attack. It led to an explosion on the ship, the death of one crew member, and the injury of another. The Ukrainian attack on the Iranian vessel is an act of aggression that threatens to fuel the fire and further expand the scope of the war."
The Iranian Foreign Ministry further claimed that the responsibility for the consequences of the Ukrainian president's "reckless actions" lies with the regime and its supporters, adding that the attack testifies to a hostile approach toward Iran.
Meanwhile, President Zelensky stated that Ukraine has identified that Russia is transferring satellite observations from the Middle East to Iran, enabling the Islamic Republic to refine its strikes in the region. "Since the beginning of July, we have documented active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and the American military facilities located there," Zelensky explained. "These photos subsequently appear in Iran's possession." He claimed there is a clear correlation between Russia's satellite imagery and Iranian attacks, both in terms of preparation and post-strike damage assessment.
Last March, a senior Iranian official warned that Ukraine had become a "legitimate target" due to assistance provided to Israel. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian parliament, wrote at the time that by supporting the Israeli regime with UAVs, Ukraine had effectively involved itself in the war, making its entire territory a legitimate target under Article 51 of the UN Charter. While Azizi did not specify the nature of this support, President Zelensky had announced that his country sent interceptor UAVs and a team of experts to Jordan to help protect US bases. It was previously revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had requested a conversation with Zelensky regarding Israeli-Ukrainian cooperation in intercepting Iranian UAVs. Ukraine possesses extensive experience in countering "Shahed"-type drones, which were sold by Tehran to Moscow and later adapted for production within Russia.
