Iran’s military had prepared to launch strikes on three sites in Ukraine but abruptly called off the operation after receiving an apology from Kyiv, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has claimed.
Mohsen Rezaei, a veteran military commander and adviser to the Iranian leadership, made the revelation in an interview with Iranian state broadcaster PressTV on August 3. He stated that Iran’s armed forces had fully completed preparations for retaliatory attacks against Ukrainian targets before the decision was reversed.
The planned strikes were reportedly in response to a Ukrainian attack on a cargo vessel carrying military supplies between Iran and Russia. Rezaei did not specify which three sites had been targeted, but said the cancellation came after what he described as an apology from Ukrainian authorities regarding the ship attack.
Ukrainian officials have not publicly confirmed or denied Rezaei’s account. The claim raises significant questions about the scope of Iran’s involvement in Russia’s war effort and whether Tehran has been directly engaging with Kyiv behind the scenes to prevent further escalation.
The incident highlights the increasingly complex web of alliances and confrontations surrounding the conflict. Iran has been a key supplier of military drones and ammunition to Russia throughout the war, while Ukraine has repeatedly struck Iranian-linked logistics networks supporting Moscow’s forces.
Western intelligence agencies have long tracked Iranian military shipments to Russia through Caspian Sea routes and via land corridors through Central Asia. Ukrainian forces have targeted some of these supply lines, leading to sporadic confrontations with Iranian-linked assets.
The revelation that Iran came within striking distance of directly attacking Ukraine represents a significant escalation in the regional dimensions of the war. Analysts note that any Iranian strikes on Ukrainian territory could have drawn NATO allies into a much wider confrontation.
Sources: UNITED24 Media, Kyiv Independent, Anadolu Agency
discussion