Ukraine Says Strike on Iranian Ship Was Unintentional, Seeks to Avoid Escalation

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said a phone call with his Iranian counterpart was aimed at preventing further tensions after Ukrainian forces targeted an Iranian vessel and Tehran warned it would retaliate. Sybiha blamed Russia for the deterioration in relations between Kyiv and Tehran, asserting that Ukraine’s military actions are solely intended for self-defense against Russian aggression.

Following the conversation, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that his Ukrainian counterpart had assured him the strike on the Iranian ship was unintentional. According to Araghchi, Kyiv emphasized that it does not seek any escalation with Iran and is committed to avoiding further tensions between the two countries.