Iran cancelled a planned attack on three sites in Ukraine at the last minute after Kyiv expressed regret, according to Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Supreme Leader Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei. The report, published on August 4, said Rezaei disclosed the decision during an interview with Iranian state television the previous day. He said preparations for the operation had been fully completed before it was called off.

Iran had accused Ukraine on July 25 of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, an incident in which one sailor was killed, according to the report. Following that incident, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called on Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to provide compensation. Ukraine did not immediately comment on Rezaei’s statements.

In the same interview, Rezaei said Iran would not allow vessels to travel outside its designated maritime route in the Strait of Hormuz. He warned that any hostile warship attempting to use an illegal route would be targeted. Rezaei also claimed that Iranian missile and drone attacks during a recent 17-day conflict had thwarted US military plans and caused major losses to US forces.