Iran had prepared to strike three sites in Ukraine before cancelling the operation after receiving an “apology” from Kyiv, a senior official has said.

Speaking to Iranian state television on Monday, Mohsen Rezaei, a top military adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said Iran’s armed forces had completed preparations for the planned strikes before the operation was called off following the apology.

Rezaei did not provide details about the apology or identify the intended targets in Ukraine.

The senior adviser also reiterated Tehran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz, warning that Iran would not allow foreign naval vessels to use any maritime route outside the channel designated by Iranian authorities.

He said any “hostile” naval vessel attempting to transit through what Iran considers an “illegal route” would be targeted.

Rezaei further claimed that Iran had inflicted heavy losses on US forces in recent days, saying Iranian missile and drone strikes had disrupted Washington’s military objectives.

He did not provide evidence to support the assertion.

His remarks came days after Tehran accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea on July 25, an incident that Iran said killed one crew member.

Following the attack, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, that Kyiv should compensate Tehran for the damage caused to the vessel.