Iran and Russia discuss vessel attack in Caspian Sea

The foreign ministers of Iran and Russia, Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Sergei Lavrov, condemned an ‘illegal’ Ukrainian attack on an Iranian merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea during a telephone conversation on Sunday, according to the Iranian foreign ministry. Araghchi denounced the action as a ‘dangerous adventure and a blatant violation of the basic principles of the United Nations Charter,’ stressing that Iran would firmly defend its national security and interests. Lavrov condemned the attack as ‘an act that violates international law and a threat to trade routes between Russia and Iran.’ The two ministers also discussed regional developments following what Tehran described as a ‘breach of promises and attempts to create insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz’ by the United States. According to the Iranian foreign ministry, the attack occurred on Saturday at 3:00 a.m. local time, resulting in an explosion on the vessel and the death of one sailor. Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Sunday that three crew members were also injured in the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Saturday that Ukrainian forces had struck a Russian warship and vessels used to transport Iranian-linked military cargo in the Caspian Sea.