Iran, Ukraine pledge to avoid escalation after ship attack

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, has assured him that Ukraine's Saturday attack on an Iranian commercial ship was "unintentional" and that Ukraine "does not seek escalation."

In a post on social media platform X following a phone call earlier in the day with Sybiha, Araghchi said, "Iran does not seek escalation either, but made clear any attack on our citizens or interests is unacceptable. There must be restitution for losses."

In a post on X earlier in the day, Sybiha confirmed the call, calling it "a frank conversation." He noted that "diplomacy is about direct conversation, even when it's difficult" and stressed that "our goal is to avoid unnecessary escalation."

Sybiha said he had reiterated that all of Ukraine's actions were "aimed solely at defending our country" and "never intended to target civilian vessels or people."

He also emphasized "the necessity to refrain from any escalatory steps."

The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack in a statement on July 25, saying that it led to the vessel's explosion and a sailor's death.

The semi-official Mehr News Agency on Sunday reported that three sailors were also injured in the attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on July 25 that his country's forces had hit a Russian warship and vessels used for transporting Iran-linked military cargo in the Caspian Sea.