Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel and killing a sailor, calling it a violation of the UN Charter carried out on Israel's orders. Araghchi said he told EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that the attack 'cannot go unanswered.'
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi escalated his accusation against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday evening, warning in separate calls with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that the alleged attack on an Iranian commercial vessel "cannot go unanswered." The diplomatic outreach follows Araghchi's initial claim, reported by The Zioneer at 18:50 Jerusalem, that Zelensky ordered the attack on Israel's behalf, killing a sailor and violating the UN Charter.
The Zioneer first reported the accusation at 18:50 Jerusalem, when Araghchi stated that an Iranian commercial vessel was attacked on Zelensky's orders, allegedly at Israel's behest to drag Europe into war. The claim, which has not been independently verified, came from Iranian state-affiliated sources. Araghchi's subsequent calls to Kallas and Lavrov represent the first diplomatic steps taken in response to the alleged incident.
Araghchi has a history of confrontational rhetoric, as The Zioneer has previously reported. On June 10, he threatened to attack US forces; on June 28, he compared US and Israeli strikes to chemical weapons attacks; and on June 17, he discussed the US-Iran memorandum of understanding with Lavrov. These statements form part of Iran's broader campaign of accusations against Israel and the US.
The Ukrainian government has not yet responded to the accusation. The claim of an attack on an Iranian vessel remains unverified, and no independent confirmation has been provided by any source.
4 developments
- DevelopingAraghchi warns Ukraine's steps 'will not go unanswered'
- StrongUkraine's ambassador says country will strike Iranian ships again, confirms Caspian Sea attack carried drone components
- DevelopingIranian Foreign Minister Araghchi threatens to attack US forces
- StrongIran's Araghchi vows armed forces will retaliate against any attack
Source and signal
- Open-source intake