Ukraine strikes Iranian vessels, Tehran accuses Kyiv of ‘hostile act’
Satellite image of Iran (masked). This image was compiled from data obtained by the LANDSAT 5 and 7 satellites, Iran, Middle East, Asia, Masked True Color Satellite Image (Photo: Planet Observer/Universal Images Group, via Getty Images)
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Iran summoned a Ukrainian diplomat to Tehran on Sunday to protest an attack on an Iranian merchant ship in the Caspian Sea, citing the danger that the war in the Middle East would overlap with the Ukrainian conflict.
Iran said that one sailor was killed and many sailors were injured in the attack. The Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency said the country’s foreign ministry filed a complaint with Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran early Sunday and “conveyed Iran’s strong protest against this ‘hostile and criminal act’.” reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday in a post on Military cargo shipments involving Iran“It’s also a warship.”
Russia has long used Iranian-designed Shahed drones in its war against Ukraine; This weapon is what analysts sometimes call the “poor man’s cruise missile.”
But Ukraine’s latest attacks, combined with Saudi military offensives against Iranian-backed Houthi targets in Yemen following the rebel group’s attacks on ships in the Red Sea in recent days, represent an expansion of the Middle East conflict.
Air defenses in Saudi Arabia reportedly intercepted two ballistic missiles from Yemen on Saturday.
The clashes in the Red Sea and the Caspian Sea took place during the period when the US attacks against Iran were suspended after 13 nights of attacks.
A senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration told Reuters when asked about the pause that Trump “has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he is showing Iran what will happen if they don’t come to the table seriously.”
The New York Times quoted administration officials as saying Trump has put aside plans to sharply increase US military strikes against Iran, at least for now. falling stocks Patriot anti-missile interceptors and other air defense munitions.
naval blockade
U.S. Central Command said in a statement late Saturday. naval blockade Sanctions against Iran remain in full force.
A post published late on Saturday
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had “established full authority over the Strait of Hormuz.” He said in a post published on the Telegram social media platform early Sunday: Forced six ships to anchor I’ve been following the alerts for the last 24 hours.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said official high-level talks between the United States and Iran have stalled. Technical talks with Oman Clashes in the Strait of Hormuz continued over the weekend.
Oil prices fell on Friday on news that Pakistan is seeking a way to restart negotiations between the United States and Iran.
International benchmark Brent crude futures closed nearly 4% lower at $96.78 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures lost 3% to settle at $89.31 a barrel.
Pakistan’s efforts to renew US-Iran talks are supported by China, three sources told Reuters.
