Iranian state media, citing remarks by Deputy Parliament Speaker Hamid-Reza Haji Babaei, warned that Iran would respond firmly if Ukraine engages in hostile acts in the Caspian Sea and the broader region. The warning comes as tensions between Tehran and Kyiv have reached their peak following a recent Ukrainian drone attack on an Iranian commercial vessel that killed one crew member.

Deputy Speaker Haji Babaei stated on this day, "If the forces manipulating Ukraine from behind cause problems in the Caspian Sea and the region, they will face a response they will regret from the Iranian people."

He also continued his harsh criticism regarding the United States. He emphasized that Iran would not allow the U.S. to dictate the timing of war and ceasefire, stressing the importance of not yielding to Washington's demands and blocking America's unilateral actions. In particular, he claimed, "The Iranian people's will to resist has drawn out a passive attitude from the U.S., and the U.S. must maintain this stance in its policy toward Iran." He also expressed doubts about the 'path of peace and dialogue' championed by the U.S., slamming it as "in fact no different from war."

The warning follows Ukraine's earlier announcement that it had attacked an Iran-related military transport vessel and a Russian warship in the Caspian Sea. The conflict between the two countries came to the surface when Iran's Foreign Ministry immediately summoned the Ukrainian chargé d'affaires to lodge a strong protest.

With direct conflict between the U.S. and Iran now in a lull, a new axis of tension is forming between Iran and Ukraine, centered on the Caspian Sea. Future developments regarding whether this conflict will escalate into a full-scale war or a broader conflict are drawing close attention.

[This article was written with the assistance of AI.]