BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 3. A number of clear pieces of evidence, including statements by the Ukrainian president, indicate that Ukraine’s attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea was deliberate, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.
He made the remarks during a press conference in Tehran on August 3.
"Ukrainian officials have stated, both in direct contacts with the Iranian Foreign Minister and in messages sent to Iran, that this attack was not intentional. The Iranian side expects Ukraine to take practical steps that would confirm its claim regarding whether this attack was deliberate or unintentional.
Iran will take all necessary measures to ensure that such a mistake is not repeated by Ukraine," he said.
On July 25, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that Ukraine had attacked an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea in the morning hours. The attack damaged the vessel, killed one sailor and injured another. The Iranian side condemned the attack.
Earlier, speaking at a press conference in Tehran on July 27, Baghaei described the incident as "illegal, unjustified and contrary to the UN Charter," calling it "a dangerous act of adventurism." He said Iran had not been involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and had maintained its position of non-interference since the beginning of hostilities.
"Over the past four years, Ukraine has accused various countries of interference. Instead, the Ukrainian government should focus on resolving its internal issues and ending the war in Eastern Europe. Ukraine’s actions could also have negative consequences in other parts of the world," Baghaei said.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea on July 25 had damaged the ship, leaving one crew member dead and another injured. Tehran condemned the incident.
Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on the reports, saying such actions were unacceptable. The ministry emphasized that, as a Caspian littoral state with a permanent neutral status recognized by the United Nations, Turkmenistan considers the Caspian Sea a sea of peace, understanding and good-neighborly relations.
