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Iran said Monday that Ukraine must "certainly compensate" Tehran for an attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea last month, adding that it remains "not convinced" the strike was accidental, despite Kyiv's earlier assurances.
"We still believe that we have not been convinced by the Ukrainian side's claim that this action was unintentional," Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at a weekly press briefing Monday.
"We heard what they had to say, but given the admission by senior Ukrainian officials that such an attack took place, they must certainly compensate us," he added.
"Naturally, if they do not compensate us, we will seek compensation ourselves," the Iranian official noted.
Asked by a reporter about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's earlier acknowledgment regarding the strike, as well as Zelenskyy's recent remarks on a security and arms-purchase understanding with Israel, and why Iranian officials appeared to be responding cautiously despite earlier promising a "decisive response," Baghaei rejected the characterization of caution.
"I don't know what you mean by caution," he said.
"We announced our position very quickly and decisively; we issued a statement. We still believe we have not been convinced by the Ukrainian side's claim that this action was unintentional," the Iranian official added.
The attack, which killed one sailor, took place in the Caspian Sea last month.
Zelenskyy said at the time that he did not want to open a "new front" but that Iran had "already attacked" Ukraine, an apparent reference to Tehran's supply of attack drones to Russia. Ukraine later said the strike had been a mistake.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on July 28 that his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, had assured him the attack was "unintentional" and that Kyiv "seeks no escalation," following a phone call between the two.
"I was assured by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha that the attack on an Iranian ship was unintentional and Ukraine seeks no escalation," Araghchi wrote on X.
Araghchi said Iran likewise does not seek escalation but stressed that attacks against Iranian citizens or national interests are "unacceptable."
"There must be restitution for losses," he added.
The remarks came days after Tehran accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, killing one sailor and injuring another.
Iran condemned the attack as an act of aggression, summoned Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Tehran and demanded accountability from Kyiv.
Sybiha said the same day that Ukraine seeks to avoid "unnecessary escalation" with Iran and insisted Ukrainian actions are directed solely at defending the country against Russia, not at targeting civilian vessels or people.
In a statement on X, Sybiha said he held a "frank" conversation with Araghchi, adding: "Diplomacy is about direct conversation, even when it's difficult."
"I stressed that our goal is to avoid unnecessary escalation. I reiterated that all of Ukraine's actions are aimed solely at defending our country from Russian aggression and never intended to target civilian vessels or people," he said.
Sybiha said Ukraine's goal is to "counter Russian aggression, which is the root cause of all incidents," adding: "And it is Russia who bears full responsibility for all provocations and casualties."
He said he emphasized the need to refrain from escalatory steps and to "end any support for Russia's war against Ukraine," and that "Europe and the Middle East deserve stability, security, and peace."
Zelenskyy said earlier that Ukrainian forces had struck vessels involved in military cargo shipments linked to Iran, without identifying any specific vessel.
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