The Iranian Foreign Ministry has condemned a recent Ukrainian strike on a vessel in the Caspian Sea, stating that Tehran reserves the right to defend its “national interests and security.”
In an official statement, the ministry asserted that Iran retains the right to take “appropriate action” in response to the attack on what it described as a commercial vessel.
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Following the diplomatic statement, the pro-Iranian Telegram channel Middle East Spectator published a map asserting that the entirety of Ukraine is within the operational range of Iranian ballistic missiles, specifically referencing the Khorramshahr-4 system. This messaging has not been corroborated by official Iranian government sources.
The Iranian condemnation follows a statement by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who reported that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian warship and other vessels in the Caspian Sea involved in transporting military cargo in cooperation with Iran.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the operation targeted the vessels Port Olya 2 and Begey, which the agency stated were engaged in military logistics between Russia and Iran.
US warnings regarding Black Sea operations
The diplomatic tension in the Caspian Sea coincides with increased pressure from the US regarding Ukraine’s maritime operations in the Black Sea.
The Trump administration recently issued a warning to Ukraine, urging Kyiv to refrain from attacking non-Russian vessels following a series of drone strikes that disrupted oil operations linked to the US energy company Chevron.
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The diplomatic intervention occurred after Chevron CEO Mike Wirth and other oil industry executives met with senior US administration officials to discuss protecting their operations in Kazakhstan. This followed Ukrainian strikes on four tankers near the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, one of which was chartered by Chevron.
A US official cited by the publication stated that the administration formally warned Ukraine that attacks on non-Russian vessels in the region were unacceptable.
“The administration views the CPC [Caspian Pipeline Consortium] as a vital conduit for transporting Kazakh-origin energy resources to European markets, serving as an alternative to Russian energy resources,” the official stated.
The Russian port of Novorossiysk is a primary oil export hub and the terminus of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, a network that supplies approximately 2% of daily global crude oil. Chevron holds a 15% stake in the CPC, which transports oil from three major fields through Kazakhstan and Russia to the Black Sea, and a 50% interest in the highly productive Tengiz field.
The recent drone attacks restricted crude loading operations at the Novorossiysk terminal, forcing Kazakhstan to reduce domestic oil production due to limited storage capacity.
The US administration aims to ensure the uninterrupted flow of Chevron’s oil production to stabilize global markets, as recent supply constraints have driven global oil prices above $100 per barrel.
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