Iran Says It ‘Does Not Seek Escalation’ After Sybiha Call Over Caspian Sea Strike, Demands Compensation

Iran has demanded compensation from Ukraine over a strike on a vessel in the Caspian Sea that killed a sailor, while Kyiv defended the operation as part of its fight against Russia’s war machine and urged Tehran to stop supporting Moscow. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha on Tuesday, July 28, that Tehran does not seek escalation but considers attacks on its citizens or interests “unacceptable.”JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “There must be restitution for the losses,” Araghchi said in a post on X, adding that Sybiha had assured him the strike on the Iranian vessel was unintentional and that Ukraine did not seek to escalate tensions. Was assured by Ukrainian FM @andrii_sybiha that the attack on an Iranian ship was unintentional and Ukraine seeks no escalation. Iran does not seek escalation either, but made clear any attack on our citizens or interests is unacceptable. There must be restitution for losses.— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) July 28, 2026 Sybiha described the call as a “frank conversation” and said diplomacy requires direct engagement “even when it’s difficult.” It was the first official contact between the two ministers since Sybiha became Ukraine’s foreign minister in September 2024. Sybiha told Araghchi that Ukraine’s actions were aimed solely at defending the country from Russia’s aggression and that Kyiv had never intended to target civilians or civilian vessels. Addressing Iran’s accusations over the sailor’s death and the damaged vessel, Sybiha said Russia was “the root cause of all incidents” and bears “full responsibility for all provocations and casualties.” Other Topics of Interest Zelensky Warns Trump Russia Is Preparing 30,000 More North Korean Troops for War Against Ukraine Kyiv says Moscow is preparing a major new North Korean deployment as Pyongyang deepens military support for Russia’s war. “This war is illegal and it must end,” Sybiha said, calling on Iran to “end any support for Russia’s war against Ukraine.” The call came a day after Tehran warned of “unforeseen consequences” over the strike, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on July 25 was part of Ukraine’s long-range operations in the Caspian Sea against vessels carrying military cargo. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said on July 25 that its drones struck a Russian Project 12418 Molniya-class missile boat. The operation also targeted the cargo ship Port Olya 2 and bulk carrier Begey, which Kyiv said were under international sanctions and used to transport military supplies between Iran and Russia. Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack the same day, saying Tehran reserved the right to defend its “national interests and security.” Kyiv-Tehran tensions deepen over Russia ties Relations between Ukraine and Iran have deteriorated since Tehran began supplying Russia with Shahed attack drones during Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The drones have become a key component of Russia’s strikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Kyiv has repeatedly accused Iran of helping fuel Russia’s war effort, while Tehran has denied direct involvement. Ukraine has also said it has provided counter-drone assistance to Gulf states targeted by Iranian attacks since the Middle East war involving Israel and the United States began at the end of February. “Our position remains unchanged,” Sybiha said. “Europe and the Middle East deserve stability, security, and peace.” Zelensky previously rejected Iran’s claims that it was not involved in Russia’s war, saying Tehran had already attacked Ukraine by supplying weapons to Moscow. While acknowledging the risk of opening another front, he insisted Ukraine “must be honest” about Iranian and North Korean support for Russia’s invasion, saying that “we cannot trust these people.” Alisa is the Head of News and a correspondent at Kyiv Post, where she leads the newsroom’s coverage of breaking events and global developments. With over seven years of experience in TV journalism, Alisa has reported on international and Ukrainian politics, making complex stories easier to understand. Back in September 2022, Alisa joined the Kyiv Post team.