Iran had been planning to conduct strikes on Ukraine but ultimately abandoned the operation after receiving an apology from Kyiv, an Iranian official reported. The Iranian military had been preparing attacks on three locations in retaliation for Ukraine's strike on a vessel that Iran claimed was transporting military cargo in the Caspian Sea.
Last week, Ukraine's military announced successful long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea, targeting vessels it said were carrying military equipment to Iran. Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader and a senior officer in Tehran's Revolutionary Guards, stated that Iran was prepared to strike three sites in Ukraine but canceled the plans after an apology from Kyiv.
Rezaei did not provide specific details regarding the Ukrainian strike that prompted the animosity or the nature of Kyiv's purported apology. He also reiterated Iran's stance that it would not permit any ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz outside of a specific route designated by Tehran. This vital shipping lane accounts for approximately 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas transit.
The reported Iranian plans follow Ukraine's announcement of strikes in the Caspian Sea, which linked its conflict with Russia to Middle East tensions. The Security Service of Ukraine stated that its drones hit an oil platform, a Russian missile boat, and cargo ships subject to international sanctions. Iranian officials identified the targeted vessel as the ship Anna, struck near the mouth of the River Volga in Russia, resulting in one crew member's death.
At the time, Ukraine's ambassador to Israel suggested that the Anna had been carrying drone and missile parts from Iran to Russia. Following the incident, Iran's Foreign Minister indicated that Ukraine should compensate for the damage. He wrote on X that any attack on Iranian citizens or interests was unacceptable and demanded restitution for losses. Subsequently, Iranian officials reported that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry described the strike as unintentional.