Beirut: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha assured him an attack on an Iranian commercial vessel was 'unintentional' and that Kyiv 'seeks no escalation.'

According to Anadolu Agency, Araghchi shared in a post on US social media platform X following a phone call with Sybiha, that the Ukrainian foreign minister informed him the reported attack on the Iranian vessel 'was not deliberate.' Araghchi stated, "I was assured by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha that the attack on an Iranian ship was unintentional and Ukraine seeks no escalation."

Araghchi emphasized that while Iran does not seek escalation, it considers attacks against Iranian citizens or national interests to be 'unacceptable.' He insisted, "There must be restitution for losses."

The remarks from Araghchi came just days after Tehran accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, an incident that resulted in the death of one sailor and injury to another. In response, Iran condemned the attack as an act of aggression, summoned Ukraine's charge d'affaires in Tehran, and demanded accountability from Kyiv.

Earlier Tuesday, Sybiha expressed that Ukraine aims to avoid 'unnecessary escalation' with Iran and clarified that Ukrainian actions are aimed at defending the country against Russia, not targeting civilian vessels or people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously mentioned that Ukrainian forces had targeted vessels involved in military cargo shipments linked to Iran, though he did not specify any particular vessel.