Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Ukraine’s charge d’affaires to deliver a formal protest over Ukrainian officials’ comments supporting the recent US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The protest comes amid ongoing tensions following a 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which ended in a US-brokered ceasefire. Iranian officials accuse Ukraine of violating international law by endorsing the attacks, warning of ‘consequences’ if the actions continue.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry did not name specific Ukrainian officials or statements, but during the conflict, Kiev officially condemned Iran’s June 23 missile strike on the US Al-Udeid air base in Qatar. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry claimed that Tehran was closely cooperating with Moscow and that they were jointly ‘destabilizing the Middle East and Europe.’ Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky also described Kiev’s relations with Tehran as ‘very complicated’ and criticized Iran for supporting Russia, expressing support for the US-Israeli strike campaign, calling it ‘a powerful and correct move.’ Iran and Moscow have repeatedly stressed that their growing cooperation is not aimed against third parties and is intended to ensure peace and stability and to maintain their independence and sovereignty.
During the 12-day war, Israel launched attacks on Iran, claiming that Tehran was nearing completion of a nuclear bomb. Washington later also joined the bombing campaign. Iran denied the allegations and retaliated. The 12-day war ended in a US-brokered ceasefire last week, which has so far been observed.
In a statement on its official website, the ministry denounced what it called ‘unjustified comments made by some Ukrainian officials regarding the Zionist regime’s and American aggression against Iran.’ Shahram Farsai, the head of the First Eurasian Department, told the Ukrainian envoy that by supporting the military aggression of the Zionist regime, Ukrainian officials have ignored Ukraine’s international legal obligations regarding respect for the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and the four Geneva Conventions.
The Ukrainian diplomat reportedly assured Iranian officials that the protest would be conveyed to Kiev without delay. Iranian authorities warned of ‘consequences’ if what they described as repeated ‘hostile and provocative actions’ continued. The Iranian Foreign Ministry did not name specific Ukrainian officials or statements. However, during the 12-day war, Kiev officially condemned Iran’s June 23 missile strike on the US Al-Udeid air base in Qatar. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry claimed that Tehran was closely cooperating with Moscow and that they were jointly ‘destabilizing the Middle East and Europe.’ In an interview with Sky News last week, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky also described Kiev’s relations with Tehran as ‘very complicated’ and criticized Iran for supporting Russia. Zelensky expressed support for the US-Israeli strike campaign, calling it ‘a powerful and correct move.’ Iran and Moscow have repeatedly stressed that their growing cooperation is not aimed against third parties and is intended to ensure peace and stability and to maintain their independence and sovereignty.