Ukraine and Iran's dangerous new standoff, explained

The escalating tensions between Ukraine and Iran over the past few days have prompted fears of a military conflict between the two countries.

Kyiv and Tehran have many reasons to be at odds with each other.

Iran has supported Russia's war effort against Ukraine since 2022, while Ukraine responded recently by backing the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

The most recent escalation was prompted by a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea on July 25.

Photo: AFP via Getty Images.