Iran claims aborted strikes on Ukraine as Zaluzhnyi warns of NATO defense gaps

Tehran prepared military strikes against three Ukrainian targets following an alleged attack on an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea, according to Mohsen Rezaei, a senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader. Speaking on Iranian state television, Rezaei claimed the planned retaliatory action was canceled after Ukrainian officials contacted Tehran to provide clarifications regarding the maritime incident.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, warned that NATO remains unprepared for modern conflict. Zaluzhnyi argued the alliance relies on outdated doctrines and estimated NATO would need approximately 12 years to reach even half of Russia's current operational drone capabilities.

The warnings coincide with growing concern among Western defense experts over the deepening strategic partnership between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which analysts describe as a major global security threat.

Sources: Liga net, NEXTA, NV, Radio Svoboda, Ukrainska Pravda