An Iranian foreign minister during a phone conversation with an Italian counterpart reiteratedTehran's vow to avengeHamaschiefIsmail Haniyeh's assassination.According to IRNA, Iranian foreign ministerAbbas Araghchitold Antonio Tajani on Sunday night that "Iran's reaction to Israeli terrorist attack in Tehran is definitive and will be measured and calculated"."We do not fear escalation, yet do not seek it-unlikeIsrael," Araghchi wrote on X.Tajani also voiced worries about the growing insecurity in the region and called on all parties to exercise restraint, urging Iran to contribute to de-escalating tensions, as reported by the country's state media.On the morning of August 25, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported thatHezbollah, an Iran-backed group, had launched over 200 rockets and drones at Israel's northern border, claiming it was in retaliation for the killing of its senior commanderFuad Shukrin Beirut, Lebanon's capital.Israel responded by bombing targets across South Lebanon. According to a report in the Times of Israel, Israel claimed to have destroyed around 1,000 Hezbollah rocket launchers in a coordinated sortie of 100 Israeli fighter jets early Sunday to prevent much of the planned assault.The Times of Israel reported today that senior Israeli negotiators were on their way to Cairo, Egypt, to continue discussions aimed at finalizing a hostage release and truce agreement in Gaza.CNN news outlet cited an Israeli official as saying, "I don't think Iran wants to find itself in escalation, especially when the US presence in the region is (now) in staggering numbers".The US, Egypt, and Qatar are mediating the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of being responsible for Haniyeh's death in Tehran on July 31, although the Israeli government has not issued any statement regarding the killing.On July 31, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards had been killed when their house in Tehran was attacked.The IDF has also stated that top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed in the Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on July 30, which was in response to the rocket attack at Golan Heights that resulted in the deaths of 12 children, as reported by The Times of Israel.
