Iran warns of response after attack on its cargo ship in Caspian Sea

ANBAR, Iraq — Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned an attack on an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea and accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of responsibility, saying one sailor was killed in what he described as a clear violation of the UN Charter. In a post on X, Araghchi said he conveyed Iran's intention to respond in phone calls with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Araghchi also alleged that the attack was carried out as part of Israeli efforts to drag Europe into war. Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a separate statement on Sunday evening condemning what it called a Ukrainian military strike on the Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea. The ministry said Iran would not hesitate to defend its interests and national security in line with the fundamental principles of international law and the right to legitimate self-defense, and would hold the Ukrainian government, its supporters and its backers accountable for the consequences of the attack. Zelensky said in a post on X on Sunday that Ukraine had targeted military cargo ships linked to Iran in the Caspian Sea.