Iran accuses Ukraine of deadly Caspian Sea ship attack

Iran accused Ukraine on Saturday of attacking one of its merchant vessels in the Caspian Sea, killing one sailor and injuring another, and warned that it would respond.

Iran's foreign ministry said the Saturday morning attack caused the ship to explode, according to the official IRNA news agency. The ministry asserted that Iran has not intervened in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media that Ukrainian forces had achieved strong results with long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea, including against vessels used for military cargo shipments involving Iran, as well as a warship.

Ukraine's SBU intelligence service said on Telegram that drone attacks had targeted cargo vessels under international sanctions that were used to move military cargo between Iran and Russia.

Iranian state television said the foreign ministry summoned Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Tehran to protest what it called a hostile and criminal act. IRNA also reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a call with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, called for a firm response from the EU and the United Nations Security Council.