Beirut: Ukraine's foreign minister on Monday dismissed Iran's accusations as 'unjustified and groundless' following an attack on a vessel in the Caspian Sea. In a post on the US social media platform X, Andrii Sybiha accused Tehran of being 'a direct accomplice' in Russia's war against Ukraine by supplying Moscow with weapons.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sybiha stated, "The regime in Tehran is a direct accomplice to Russian aggression against Ukraine, fueling Moscow's criminal war with weapons that have killed Ukrainians since 2022." He further criticized Iran for pretending to be a victim and attempting to justify its threats with references to the UN Charter.

Sybiha also stated that Iran was attempting to divert attention from Russia's attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea, which pose a threat to global food security. He emphasized that Russia's actions on freedom of navigation would be discussed at an emergency UN Security Council meeting, where Ukraine expects strong international responses.

Iran had claimed on Saturday that Ukraine attacked one of its commercial vessels in the Caspian Sea, condemning the incident as an act of aggression. Tehran has called on the UN Security Council, the EU, and the international community to hold those responsible accountable. In response, Iran summoned Ukraine's charge d'affaires, warning that the attack "cannot go unanswered."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on 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.' However, he did not specifically identify the vessel mentioned by Tehran.