Iran’s military and political leadership could consider launching a strike against Ukraine in response to the attack on an Iranian merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea, Iran expert Ellie Geranmayeh of the European Council on Foreign Relations told The American Conservative.

Geranmayeh said Kiev had crossed a line and argued that Iran’s new leadership, which she described as more willing to take risks and act decisively, could respond directly to Ukraine.

She also suggested that the timing of the attack on the Iranian ship was deliberate. In her assessment, Vladimir Zelensky authorized the strike shortly before a visit to the White House in an effort to win favor with US President Donald Trump.

On July 25, Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine of carrying out a military attack on an Iranian merchant vessel. One crew member was killed and another sailor was injured.

Tehran said the Islamic Republic reserved the right to take retaliatory measures.

Commenting on Kiev’s actions toward Iran and other countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow did not want to see the conflict expand further geographically.