Iran says Ukraine owes compensation for damage to Caspian Sea vessel

Ukraine must voluntarily compensate Iran for damage caused by an attack on a vessel in the Caspian Sea, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, warning that Tehran will otherwise seek compensation itself.

“We have clearly and firmly stated our position and issued a corresponding statement. We continue to maintain that the Ukrainian side’s claims that the incident occurred unintentionally have not convinced us. 

We listened to their explanations; however, based on the Ukrainian side’s statements, they are obliged to compensate for the damage caused. If they do not do so, we will seek compensation ourselves,” he emphasised.

Tehran’s demand for compensation followed a July 25, 2026, incident in which Ukraine conducted long-range drone strikes in the Caspian Sea against vessels it described as involved in transporting military cargo linked to Iran, as well as a Russian warship.

Iran reported that an attack on one of its commercial vessels caused an explosion that killed one sailor and injured another, prompting Tehran to summon Ukraine's chargé d'affaires and label the action a hostile violation of the UN Charter.

Ukrainian officials, including President Zelenskyy and the SBU, stated the targets included sanctioned cargo ships used on the Iran-Russia logistics route for items such as ammunition and drone components, along with a missile boat and an offshore oil platform.

By Jeyhun Aghazada