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ISTANBUL: Türkiye has strongly condemned drone attacks on two commercial cargo vessels in the Black Sea, warning that continued assaults on civilian shipping could jeopardize international maritime trade and global food security. According to international media reports, the vessels were attacked shortly after departing Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that several crew members were injured in the incidents and said their condition is being closely monitored. In a statement, the ministry expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea, noting that repeated warnings about the risks to civilian navigation have gone unheeded. It stressed that disruptions to commercial shipping could have serious consequences for global trade routes and food supply chains. Ankara urged all parties involved in the conflict to take immediate and effective measures to safeguard freedom of navigation and ensure the safety of commercial vessels operating in the region. Reports identified the targeted ships as Yasir and Nadezhda, sailing under the flags of Panama and Cameroon, respectively. Although registered abroad, both vessels are reportedly owned by Turkish companies. The attacks come amid a steady rise in hostilities across the Black Sea, where commercial shipping has increasingly been caught in the crossfire of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In late June, an attack near Crimea on a Turkish fishing boat left one person dead and four others injured, while another Turkish cargo ship was reportedly struck by a drone at the end of May. Meanwhile, separate security incidents have further heightened regional tensions. In the Russian-controlled Crimean city of Sevastopol, four people, including a soldier, were killed after a serviceman allegedly opened fire on both military personnel and civilians before being taken into custody. Authorities have launched an investigation into the motive behind the shooting. Elsewhere, Russian officials reported that a Ukrainian drone strike on the industrial area of Novoselki near Moscow killed five people and injured ten others. The attack also triggered multiple fires across the industrial zone. Analysts say the intensifying military activity in the Black Sea is increasing the risks to international commerce, energy transportation, and global food supplies, while further complicating efforts to ease the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has claimed that the United States and Israel failed to achieve their objectives during the conflict with Iran, as Tehran indicated that negotiations with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz were nearing an agreement but would not immediately lead to the waterway’s reopening. Brig Gen Hassan Zadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Mohammad Rasulullah Corps in Tehran, said Iran’s military preparedness and public support had helped the country withstand the US and Israeli campaign. Speaking during an inspection of upgraded air-defence units, Zadeh said Washington and Tel Aviv had failed to accomplish their stated goals and were now facing questions from their own populations and political circles. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said talks with Oman over a temporary shipping arrangement in the Strait of Hormuz were progressing. However, he stressed that an agreement on a shipping route alone would not be sufficient to reopen the strategically important waterway. Iran has linked the reopening of the strait to several conditions, including an end to US threats and attacks, the lifting of sanctions and blockades, compensation for losses and the release of Iranian assets. Tehran has also rejected the previous traffic separation system used by vessels passing through the waterway. Oman described its discussions with Iran as positive and constructive while urging all sides to avoid actions that could undermine the negotiations. Muscat also condemned recent attacks on ships travelling through the strait without assigning responsibility. The developments come amid continued disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy supplies. The United Arab Emirates said an oil-related vessel had been struck by a missile while transiting the waterway, although no injuries were reported. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency also reported that a vessel caught fire after being hit by an unidentified projectile. The fire was later extinguished, with no environmental damage reported. The United States has said it expects an agreement that could restore commercial shipping and allow restrictions on Iranian ports to be eased. US Central Command said more than 30 vessels had been permitted to pass through the area for humanitarian purposes, while dozens of others had been stopped or subjected to military action. Iranian officials, however, maintain that the strait will only be reopened once Washington accepts Tehran’s demands. Iranian authorities have also warned that any future shipping arrangement must provide Iran with greater control over maritime traffic. The prolonged disruption has contributed to rising energy costs and increased prices for food and other essential goods in Iran, adding further pressure on the country’s economy as negotiations continue.