Zelenskyy says Iran is already at war with Ukraine, warns against opening 'new front'

Zelenskyy / Antonio Masiello / Getty Image

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Iran has already attacked Ukraine by supplying Russia with military assets as tensions between Kyiv and Tehran escalated following an alleged Ukrainian strike in the Caspian Sea.

Speaking during a visit to the United Kingdom, Zelenskyy argued that Tehran had became directly involved in the war early on by providing drones, technology and production licenses to Russia.

"Iran, from the first year of the war, gave a new base, new technology to Russia," Zelenskyy told Sky News Chief Correspondent Stuart Ramsay.

"It was Shahed drones. They gave thousands of these drones in the first year of the war. Then they gave licenses."

Zelenskyy also said Iran had already entered the conflict by arming Moscow.

"What did they do? Did they attack us? I think yes. So they already did it. The war was already underway. Effectively, they are attacking you," he said.

"We have to be cautious. We have to do everything not to open a new front in any way, but we have to be honest."

"Iranians and North Koreans already attacked us," he added.

Zelenskyy said he hoped Iran would not expand its support for Russia but warned Ukraine needed to remain prepared.

"Yes, I hope that they will not increase these attacks, but we have to be ready for everything," he said.

"We can't trust these people because, at the very, very beginning, without any messages or any kind of escalation from our side, Iranians gave weapons, North Koreans gave weapons — drones, missiles and artillery rounds."

Araghchi / Shadati / Xinhua via Getty Images

Zelenskyy previously said Ukrainian forces struck vessels in the Caspian Sea on July 25 that Kyiv alleges were transporting Iranian military cargo to Russia.

The alleged attack prompted sharp warnings from Tehran, with Iranian officials saying an explosion aboard a vessel killed one sailor and wounded another.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the incident "cannot go unanswered."