🔊 Iran’s envoy to Russia says Ukraine-hit vessel carried no military cargo 📌 Moscow, IRNA – Iran’s a...

🔊 Iran’s envoy to Russia says Ukraine-hit vessel carried no military cargo 📌 Moscow, IRNA – Iran’s ambassador to Russia has condemned a recent drone attack by Ukraine against an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea as a “criminal act,” saying the vessel was fully civilian, carrying no military cargo. Kazem Jalali told IRNA on Monday that one Iranian national was killed in the attack and several others were injured. He offered condolences to the family of the victim. ​ Jalali said Iran’s consulate general in the Russian city of Astrakhan worked closely with Russian authorities after the attack to facilitate the swift evacuation of Iranian crew members from the area. ​ He said the incident was the main subject of a telephone conversation on Sunday between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. According to Jalali, Araghchi said Iran reserved the right to respond to the attack, and that any decision on further action would be taken by the country’s leadership. ​ The ambassador said the Anna was anchored about five kilometers from the entrance to the Volga River when it was targeted by a Ukrainian drone while waiting for stormy weather to subside before continuing its voyage. ​ Responding to a question about whether Russia should retaliate because the strike took place in its territorial waters, Jalali said such an expectation was justified, adding that Iran expected Russia, as a friendly country, to give a serious response to the “criminal” attack. 📲 ​