Iran Prepared Retaliatory Strike on Ukraine After Cargo Ship Attack, NYT Reports
Iran prepared a retaliatory strike against Ukraine after a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea killed a civilian sailor, but the crisis was defused through diplomatic efforts, according to a report by The New York Times.
The report said the attack on the Iranian commercial vessel took place on Saturday. In response, Tehran reportedly prepared to launch short-range ballistic missiles carrying explosive warheads at a Ukrainian Black Sea port in what analysts described as a symbolic retaliatory strike.
According to Iranian and Western sources cited by The New York Times, the planned response was halted after diplomatic contacts helped ease tensions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack on Sunday, calling it a violation of the United Nations Charter and warning that Ukraine would be held accountable.
However, following a phone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Araghchi said Ukraine had described the strike on the cargo ship as unintentional and expressed that Kyiv did not want the situation to escalate.
In a post on X, Araghchi said Iran also sought to avoid further escalation but stressed that attacks on civilian vessels and civilians were unacceptable. He also called for compensation for the damage caused by the attack.
The New York Times also reported that Araghchi later held talks with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to discuss ways to reduce tensions.
Analysts said a direct Iranian strike on Ukraine could have significantly escalated regional tensions, particularly amid longstanding Western accusations that Tehran has provided military support to Russia during the war in Ukraine.
