Iran says it cancelled planned strikes on Ukraine after Kyiv apology

Iran cancelled planned retaliatory strikes against three sites in Ukraine after receiving what it described as a formal apology from Kyiv over a July 25 attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, a senior Iranian adviser said.

The episode marked a rare direct confrontation between Iran and Ukraine, following a strike that Iranian officials say killed one crew member aboard the ship, says Al Jazeera.

Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iran's late Supreme Leader, said Iran's armed forces had completed preparations for retaliatory action before the operation was called off.

Rezaei said the operation was scrapped after the Ukrainian government offered an "apology" for the Caspian Sea strike.

Iran's decision followed talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, according to Iranian officials.

Rezaei said Sybiha had assured Araghchi that the strike on the Iranian ship was "unintentional" and that "Kyiv did not seek escalation".

Reuters could not independently verify the circumstances of the July 25 incident or Iran's account of the diplomatic exchanges. There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities on Rezaei's statements.

Separately, Rezaei warned that Iran would target hostile naval vessels attempting to use what he described as unauthorized routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

He said any hostile naval vessel attempting to use an "illegal route" through the strategic waterway "would be hit".

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most important oil shipping routes and has frequently been a focus of regional tensions.