Iranian Parliament First Deputy Speaker Ali Nikzad said Tehran is prepared to take retaliatory action following an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on a merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea, according to the Fars news agency.
Nikzad warned that any location used to launch aggression against Iran or its territory would be regarded as a legitimate target for the country’s armed forces. He added that the actions of the Ukrainian government would not go unanswered.
The Iranian vessel was struck on the morning of July 25. An explosion followed, killing one sailor and injuring another.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the incident as an act of aggression and a violation of the UN Charter. The ministry also warned that such actions could deepen the military escalation. Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires was summoned and handed an official protest note.
Iranian authorities later pointed out that the entire territory of Ukraine is within range of the Sejjil and Khorramshahr-4 heavy ballistic missiles.
Earlier, Vladimir Zelensky reported successful operations by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Caspian Sea. He said vessels allegedly involved in transporting military cargo had been hit.