Iranian FM, EU's Kallas discuss Caspian vessel attack, Hormuz tensions
08:56, 26/07/2026, SundayU: Update: 10:15, 26/07/2026, Sunday
AA
File photo
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas discussed regional developments including an alleged Ukrainian strike on an Iranian commercial vessel and mounting tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran urging a “decisive response” from the international community to the deadly incident.
Caspian Sea attack
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday strongly condemned an attack against an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea during a telephone call with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, urging a “decisive response” from the UN Security Council and European Union against what he termed the “criminal” act. The two officials examined regional developments including the vessel strike and escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz during their conversation, according to a statement released by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
Tehran earlier claimed that Ukrainian forces targeted the commercial ship, killing one sailor and injuring another, prompting warnings from Iranian officials that the Islamic Republic would defend its national interests against further aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on the social media platform X that Ukraine had achieved “very strong results” with long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea, including against “vessels used in military cargo shipments involving Iran, as well as a warship,” though he did not specifically identify the vessel cited by Tehran.
Gulf diplomatic push
The two officials also addressed developments in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz following Iran’s military response to recent US attacks against the Islamic Republic, the ministry said. Araghchi and Kallas emphasized the need for diplomatic initiatives to manage tensions and prevent further escalation in the region, stressing the importance of international cooperation to maintain maritime security.
Zelenskyy’s remarks on Saturday marked the first time Kyiv has claimed responsibility for strikes against Iranian vessels in the Caspian Sea, expanding the geographic scope of the conflict beyond the Black Sea and eastern Ukraine. The Caspian Sea is bordered by Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan, making it a critical but previously insulated waterway for regional trade and energy shipments.