Iran warns Ukraine after Caspian Sea vessel attack as US halts strikes
Iran issued a second warning to Ukraine following a July 25 blast on a commercial ship in the Caspian Sea, while the United States paused its two-week bombing campaign against Iranian targets.
Iran’s National Security Commission warned Ukraine on Monday that Tehran would not let the recent attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea go unanswered. The strike on July 25 caused an explosion that killed one sailor and wounded another, according to Iranian officials.
Ebrahim Azizi, head of the commission, wrote on the social platform X that “the list of those who have miscalculated continues to increase.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said the incident could not be ignored and blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ukraine maintains that its forces targeted the ship because it was allegedly transporting military cargo linked to Iran, a claim Tehran rejects. The incident follows a series of retaliatory strikes by Iran after the killing of four U.S. service members, which prompted President Donald Trump to launch a two-week bombing campaign against Iranian infrastructure in the Strait of Hormuz.
On the same day, the United States announced a pause in the campaign, with military commanders saying the operation was running out of viable targets. The halt, now in its third day, has led to a modest decline in oil prices and a brief rise in U.S. stock futures.
Regional tensions remain high. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting drones aimed at its oil facilities, and Jordan said it shot down two drones over its territory. Mediators from Qatar and Pakistan are working to extend the cease-fire and address shipping disputes in the Strait of Hormuz.