The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned Ukraine's attack on an Iranian merchant ship in the Caspian Sea, saying in a statement on Saturday that one sailor was killed and another injured.
The ministry stated that Ukraine's action caused an explosion on the ship and violated Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter. The statement stressed that the incident was an act of aggression that could escalate the conflict.
Tehran pointed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's public admission of the operation as proof of Kyiv's 'hostile and irrational' stance towards Iran. Iran once again reiterated that it has never taken sides in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry called on the UN Security Council and European countries to adopt a 'responsible stance'. The statement also noted that in accordance with international law and the principle of legitimate self-defense, Iran will not hesitate to protect its national security and interests.
The statement added that Kyiv and its allies would bear full responsibility for the consequences of Ukraine's actions.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy wrote on X the same day that Ukraine's long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea had produced significant results. Zelenskyy claimed that several Russian ships, as well as vessels carrying Iranian military equipment, were hit in the operation.