Just as diplomatic efforts in the Middle East began taking shape following US President Donald Trump’s order to temporarily suspend a 13-day military campaign against Iran, conflict has flared up on a new front.
Tehran has accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on an Iranian commercial cargo vessel in the Caspian Sea, leaving at least one sailor dead and another injured. Denouncing the strike as a “hostile and criminal act,” Iran warned Kiev of a decisive response.
Attack Details and Zelenskyy’s Statement
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukrainian forces carried out successful long-range strikes against several vessels carrying military equipment in the Caspian Sea. He stated that the targeted ships were directly linked to Iran and were being used to supply military materiel.
Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) released a statement on social media, noting:
“Drone strikes were conducted against multiple sanctioned cargo vessels used to transport military hardware between Iran and Russia.”
Iran’s state news agency IRNA, citing the Foreign Ministry, reported that the attack occurred on Saturday morning, causing a severe explosion on board the ship. However, Tehran reiterated its position that Iran has maintained complete neutrality since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has not intervened on behalf of either party.
