Iran claims Ukraine attack plan canceled after apology

Rezaei linked the planned strikes to an attack on a merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea, which he presented as the trigger for Tehran's threatened response. He offered no evidence for the claimed apology or for the specific targets he referenced.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had previously held a conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, stressing that Kyiv sought to prevent unnecessary escalation. Sybiha stated that Ukraine’s actions were directed solely at defending the country from Russian aggression and were never intended to target civilian vessels or people. He urged Tehran to avoid escalatory steps and end any support for Russia’s invasion.

Rezaei’s remarks followed several days of escalating tensions between Tehran and Kyiv after Ukraine struck vessels in the Caspian Sea that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy identified as carrying military cargo linked to Russia and Iran. Analysts noted that Iran possesses ballistic missiles with the theoretical range to reach Ukrainian territory, though there was no evidence that Tehran had made an official decision to carry out such strikes.