Zakharova calls Ukrainian strike on Iranian vessel a terrorist act and “maritime piracy”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has characterized the strike by Ukrainian Armed Forces on an Iranian merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea as a terrorist act.

She expressed her view on Sputnik radio.

“In modern terms, a terrorist act — from the perspective of, I suppose, global practice — this is a terrorist act that grew out of the reviving practice of ‘maritime piracy,'” the diplomat said.

On July 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Ukrainian forces had attacked an Iranian merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea. One crew member was killed in the explosion. Tehran characterized the incident as an act of aggression and accused Kyiv of attempting to spread the Russian-Ukrainian conflict beyond the combat zone.

On July 28, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Washington, stated that Kyiv must pay compensation for the strike on the Iranian vessel.

Earlier, the NYT reported on Iran’s plans to carry out a missile strike on a Ukrainian port.