“Following the criminal actions of the Ukrainian army, which attacked an Iranian merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea on Saturday night, Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran was summoned to Assistant Foreign Minister of Iran and Director General of the Eurasia Department Manouchehr Moradi,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said.

“He was handed Iran’s strong protest in connection with this hostile and criminal act. It was also emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran firmly defends its security and national interests and will not leave unanswered any encroachment on the lives and property of its citizens,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry noted, Pars Today reports.