Iranian Ship in Serang Ukraine in Caspian Sea, Tehran Protests Hard

Tehran launched a fierce protest over the shooting of the ship by Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons - Ninara)

JAKARTA - The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) has summoned the Ukrainian Charge d'Affaires in Tehran to protest Ukraine's military attack on an Iranian merchant ship in the Caspian Sea that killed a crew member (ABK) and injured several others.

The Ukrainian Charge d'Affaires was summoned on Sunday morning by the Director General of Eurasia at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Manouchehr Moradi, to convey Tehran's strong protest against Kiev's "hostile and criminal actions".

During the meeting, Moradi stressed that the attack on Iranian merchant ships in the Caspian Sea was a violation of the basic principles of the UN Charter.

This is also an act of aggression and "a clear threat to the security of coastal countries".

The director general of Eurasia at the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that the Ukrainian government must be held responsible for the incident and punish the perpetrators of the attack.

Moradi also stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran would continue to defend its national security and interests, and would not remain silent over "attacks on the lives and properties of its citizens".

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday (25/7) as reported by Antara, confirmed that his party had attacked a ship in the Caspian Sea. He claimed that the ship attacked was transporting military equipment to Iran.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry assessed that the attack reflected "an irrational and dangerous approach" by Ukraine towards Iran.

Iran also called the attack a violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and an "act of aggression" that could lead to an escalation of hostilities.