Iran's FM claims Ukraine struck Iranian vessel 'at Israel's behest,' vows retaliation

Key Points:

• Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned a deadly attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, blaming Ukraine and alleging it was carried out "at Israel’s behest," though no evidence was provided for Israel's involvement.
• Ukraine claimed it targeted vessels involved in transporting Iranian weapons to Russia to support its war effort, with the attack killing one Iranian sailor and injuring others.
• Iran summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires to protest the attack and emphasized it has not intervened in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while also warning that Ukraine's actions "cannot go unanswered."
• Russia expressed condolences to Iran and highlighted diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, with Iranian and Russian officials discussing the incident and regional stability.
• A senior Iranian source indicated Iran would pause its regional attacks if the US reciprocated by halting its strikes, amid ongoing tensions following recent US and Israeli military campaigns targeting Iran’s missile and nuclear programs.