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FM rejects Ukraine ‘unintentional’ claim over ship attack as ‘unacceptable’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Ukraine must accept responsibility for an “unlawful attack” on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, rejecting Kiev's claim that the incident was unintentional after the Ukrainian president acknowledged responsibility.
Araghchi made the remarks during a phone conversation with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, as the two discussed the latest regional and international developments.
The Iranian foreign minister said that, given the Ukrainian president's "explicit statements" accepting responsibility for the attack on the Iranian commercial ship, claims that the strike had been accidental were "not acceptable."
He said the "Ukrainian regime" must "explicitly accept responsibility" for the "illegal and criminal act" that killed one Iranian citizen and wounded several others and damaged the their commercial vessel.
Araghchi also spoke by telephone with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, telling him that any attack on Iranian citizens or interests was unacceptable and insisting that all damages resulting from the incident must be fully compensated.
Deputy Speaker of Iran’s Parliament Ali Nikzad on Sunday described Ukraine’s attack as a “reckless action”, saying that Kiev’s move will not go unanswered.
Nikzad said that Iran will always exercise its legal right to defend its territorial integrity, warning that any location used as an origin for aggression against Iran will be a legitimate target for the country’s armed forces.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday that Kiev had carried out long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea against vessels involved in transporting military cargo involving Iran, as well as a warship.
Ukraine's intelligence services (SBU), for their part, claimed that drone attacks had been carried out against "cargo vessels under international sanctions that were used to transport military cargo between Iran and Russia".
Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran to protest the “hostile and criminal” attack.
The ministry said in a statement that the attack reflected Kiev’s continued “irrational and hostile approach” towards Iran, asserting that the Islamic Republic will defend its national interests.