Ukraine has attacked an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea. Analysts say the incident is seen as positive from Washington’s point of view. In their view, Ukraine has advanced US interests as well as protecting its own through the move.
The former US ambassador and senior fellow at the research organisation the RAND Corporation, William Courtney, made the comment in an interview with the Qatar-based outlet Al Jazeera.
He said: “I think the Ukrainians are trying to align themselves with US strategy on the Iran question. Washington will assess Ukraine’s attack on an Iranian ship supplying drones and military equipment to Russia quite positively.”
William Courtney said the United States has had strong concerns from the outset about Iran supplying Russia with its Shahed drones. A more advanced version of the Shahed drone is now being produced at a factory in Russia. A Ukrainian attack on Iranian supply will therefore come as a relief to the US administration.
He said, however, that Ukraine has no wish to become directly involved in Iran’s continuing war with the United States and Israel.
In his view: “By stopping drones being sent to Russia, Ukraine has helped itself. At the same time it is consolidating relations with the Trump administration by striking Iran, America’s number one enemy at this moment, which is positive for them.”
Courtney also warned: “This war against Iran in the Middle East is quite unpopular with Western publics. So Ukraine will not want to involve itself directly in the war against Iran, or to draw attention to it unduly.”
The comments came as Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, arrived in Washington DC to attend the funeral of the late US senator Lindsey Graham. There is a possibility of talks with President Trump during the visit.
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