On Thursday, April 2, the spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested against the shooting of Iranian fishermen by Turkmen border guards, stating that they have requested an 'immediate and official explanation' from Turkmen authorities regarding the incident. Elyas Heyvachi, the governor of the Turkmen port in Iran, stated that Turkmen border guards shot at Iranian fishermen who were fishing within the maritime borders of the two countries, resulting in the death of two fishermen and the detention of two others who survived. According to IRNA, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reacted to the shooting by Turkmen maritime guards, saying that unfortunate news has emerged about the shooting of Iranian fishermen, leading to the death of two and the detention of two others. He continued, 'Immediately after the occurrence of this regrettable incident and the dissemination of this news, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran contacted Turkmen officials to seriously pursue the matter and formally requested an explanation from the government of that country, which continues to be followed up.' He added, 'We strongly protest the reckless action of Turkmen border guards in shooting at a civilian fishing boat, as even if the Iranian fishermen had approached Turkmen waters, according to international norms, border forces can guide them away from the waters of that country.' Meanwhile, the governor of the Turkmen port in Iran stated that the bodies of the fishermen and the two survivors are in the custody of Turkmenistan. According to him, these fishermen, all from the Turkmen port area, had gone fishing on Tuesday night in the maritime borders of the two countries without heeding previous warnings issued to all local fishermen. This Iranian official described the actions of the Turkmen border guards as 'inappropriate' and explained that one of the fishermen was killed instantly, and another died due to the severity of injuries. According to IRNA, the shooting of fishermen by Turkmen border guards has a history, and in recent years, several fishermen who have fished within the maritime borders of the two countries have been shot at.
Iran Protests to Turkmenistan Over 'Killing of Two Iranian Fishermen'
Iran has lodged a strong protest with Turkmenistan after two Iranian fishermen were shot dead by Turkmen border guards while fishing in disputed waters. The Iranian government is demanding an official explanation for the incident, which raises tensions between the two countries. This incident highlights ongoing issues regarding border security and fishing rights in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iran has protested to Turkmenistan after two Iranian fishermen were shot dead by Turkmen border guards while fishing in disputed waters. The Iranian government is demanding an official explanation and condemning the actions of the Turkmen guards.
- Two Iranian fishermen were killed and two others detained by Turkmen border guards.
- The incident highlights ongoing tensions over fishing rights and border security between Iran and Turkmenistan.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Disputes over fishing rights and maritime boundaries are common in the Caspian Sea, where several countries have overlapping claims. This incident reflects longstanding tensions between Iran and its neighbors.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%