Iranian adviser says planned strikes on Ukrainian sites were canceled

Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said Iranian forces had completed preparations to strike three Ukrainian sites.

In comments broadcast on Iranian state television on August 3, Rezaei said the planned operation was later suspended.

He attributed the decision to what he described as an apology from Ukraine.

Iran had alleged on July 25 that Ukraine attacked an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, killing one sailor.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha that Kyiv should compensate Tehran for losses Iran says resulted from that alleged attack.

Rezaei also said Iran would not permit maritime corridors outside routes designated by Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz.

He said any hostile warship attempting to use such a route would be targeted.

Donald Trump said on August 3 that the United States and Iran were in talks and called the negotiations Tehran’s final opportunity for a deal.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei denied that any talks with Washington were under way or that a meeting had been scheduled.

Baghaei said Iran’s only current discussions concerned management of the Strait of Hormuz with Oman.