The attack in the Caspian Sea was an unusually direct encounter between two countries that have been on opposite sides for years. T he southern coast of the Caspian Sea at the port city of Bandar Anzali, Iran, last year. Vahid Salemi/Associated Press Credit... By Constant Méheut and Qasim Nauman Constant Méheut reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. July 28, 2026 Updated 9:06 a.m. ET Original article contains numerous links A Ukrainian strike last weekend on an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea has underscored the links between the wars that the two countries are fighting, raising tensions between them as well as the risk of more direct confrontation. Ukraine said the ship was carrying military equipment between Iran and Russia. Iranian officials said it was a commercial vessel, and it accused Ukraine of killing a sailor in the attack. Iranian officials threatened retaliation in a series of statements and comments to the news media. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, snapped b...