U.S. halts strikes on Iran as diplomatic talks move in positive direction

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani held a phone call Sunday with Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi and national security adviser of the United Arab Emirates, to discuss "bilateral relations and ways to support and enhance bilateral cooperation," said Qatar's Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement.

"They also addressed the latest regional developments, particularly diplomatic efforts and joint coordination to de-escalate tensions and strengthen security and stability in the region," the statement continued, adding that Al-Thani "stressed the importance of all parties adhering to dialogue and diplomacy" and "ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday warned that his country would respond to a deadly attack by Ukraine on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea.

It came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv had carried out long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea against vessels transporting military cargo involving Iran, underscoring the increasingly international dimensions of Russia's war in Ukraine.

"Zelenskyy has attacked an Iranian commercial vessel, killing a sailor," Araghchi said on X, describing it as "a blatant UN Charter violation done at Israel's behest to drag Europe into its war."

Iran's foreign ministry said the attack caused the ship "to explode, killing one sailor and injuring several others."

The Islamic Republic "has never intervened in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," the ministry said in a statement.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media that armed forces had achieved "very strong results with long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea — including vessels used in military cargo shipments involving Iran, as well as a warship."

Ukraine's intelligence services, for their part, reported on Telegram that drone attacks had been carried out against "cargo vessels under international sanctions that were used to transport military cargo between Iran and Russia."

More than 400 U.S. service members have been flown out of the Middle East for various types of treatment since Operation Epic Fury began, a U.S. official told CBS News. However, most cases were not combat-related, the official said.

Operation Epic Fury, the military campaign carried out jointly by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, started Feb. 28.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz's status remains unchanged, as Iranian and Omani offici