KIEV, July 28 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Tuesday that he called Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi by phone.
In a post on X, Sybiha wrote that during the "frank conversation" he stressed that Ukraine's goal is "to avoid unnecessary escalation."
Iran accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial ship in the Caspian Sea on Saturday, leading to the vessel's explosion and a sailor's death.
Sybiha said he had reiterated that all of Ukraine's actions were "aimed solely at defending our country" and "never intended to target civilian vessels or people."
"This is also true with regard to Iran's statements about their national who died and a civilian vessel that was targeted in a recent incident," he noted.
"I emphasised the necessity to refrain from any escalatory steps," he added. ■