Iran Protests Ukrainian Attack on Ship in Caspian Sea

Iran's Foreign Ministry has summoned Ukraine's Chargé d'Affaires in Tehran to lodge a strong protest against a Ukrainian military strike on an Iranian merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea. The incident, reported by IRNA and quoted by Antara, resulted in the death of one Iranian crew member and injuries to others.

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hostile and criminal actions

During the meeting on Sunday, July 26, 2026, Iran's Director General for Eurasia, Manouchehr Moradi, conveyed Tehran's strong condemnation of what he termed Kyiv's "hostile and criminal actions." Moradi emphasized that the attack violated fundamental principles of the UN Charter and constituted an act of aggression that threatened the security of coastal states.

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threat to the security of coastal states

Moradi asserted that the Ukrainian government must be held accountable for the incident and that the perpetrators should be punished. He further stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran would continue to defend its national security and interests, and would not remain silent in the face of attacks on its citizens' lives and property.

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irrational and dangerous approach

In a separate statement on Saturday, July 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed his forces had attacked a ship in the Caspian Sea, claiming it was transporting military equipment to Iran. Iran's Foreign Ministry deemed the attack an "irrational and dangerous approach" by Ukraine, characterizing it as a violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and an "act of aggression" that could escalate hostilities.

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act of aggression