{"text":[[{"start":9.5,"text":"Iran’s foreign ministry said a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian merchant vessel in the Caspian Sea early on Saturday caused an explosion that killed one sailor and injured another."}],[{"start":20.7,"text":"In a statement, the ministry said the Islamic republic would have “no doubt” about defending itself and urged European countries to hold Kyiv accountable if they were genuinely concerned about preventing a wider war."}],[{"start":34.75,"text":"The attack came during a pause in weeks of tit-for-tat strikes between Iran and the US. Each side has accused the other of violating a memorandum of understanding signed last month that established a ceasefire until mid-August to allow negotiations on a more durable peace agreement."}],[{"start":51.35,"text":"Iran and the US have interpreted the terms of the ceasefire agreement differently, particularly as it concerns the Strait of Hormuz, leading both sides to threaten the resumption of full-scale hostilities."}],[{"start":63.650000000000006,"text":"Iran reiterated on Saturday that it was not involved in the Russia-Ukraine war. Kyiv has long accused Tehran of supplying Russia with drones used in Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine."}],[{"start":75.30000000000001,"text":"Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday accused Russia of helping Iran direct missile strikes in the Gulf."}],[{"start":82.4,"text":"“Since the beginning of July, we have recorded active Russian satellite surveillance of the Gulf states and US military facilities located there. These images subsequently appear in Iran,” Zelenskyy said on X."}],[{"start":95.75,"text":"“At the same time, there is a clear correlation between Russia’s satellite imagery of these sites and Iranian strikes — both before the attacks, in preparation for them, and afterward, to assess the damage inflicted."}],[{"start":108.9,"text":"There has been speculation in Tehran that the strike was intended to increase pressure on Iran by signalling that its northern borders could also be threatened if it failed to reach an agreement with Washington."}],[{"start":120.55000000000001,"text":"Iran’s Caspian ports have become increasingly important for trade as the US blockade has complicated access to its southern maritime routes. The northern corridor allows Iran to import goods from states around the Caspian and receive Chinese cargo transported overland by rail through Central Asia before reaching ports on the Caspian coast."}],[{"start":141.10000000000002,"text":"Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, called for a “firm response” to the strike from the UN Security Council and the European Union, urging them to hold “those responsible for the attack, as well as their supporters, accountable”."}],[{"start":159.55,"text":"Relations between Tehran and Kyiv were already strained before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine because of the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 near Tehran in January 2020. "}],[{"start":173.65,"text":"Iran’s military admitted days later that it had mistakenly shot down the Boeing 737 with two surface-to-air missiles during a period of heightened military tensions with the US following the killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. "}],[{"start":188.25,"text":"All 176 people on board were killed. Ukraine and the families of many victims have continued to seek fuller accountability from Iran and have challenged Tehran’s explanation of the incident."}],[{"start":209.15,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1785026975_5649.mp3"}