Two Israeli reserve soldiers were killed during combat in southern Lebanon, the military said Thursday, where Israel has been fighting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Iran said an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz is in its final stages, while US President Donald Trump suggested a deal could be announced within days. Follow our live blog for the latest developments.
Oil prices slip as Iran cites progress with Oman on Hormuz agreement
Oil prices trended lower on Thursday on the progress in Iran-Oman talks, with investors cautiously waiting for signs of a US-Iran peace deal and progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude futures fell 33 cents, or 0.42 percent, to $79.12 a barrel by 04:18 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate futures declined 42 cents, or 0.56 percent, to $74.80 a barrel.
Brent settled up slightly on Wednesday, while WTI edged lower.
Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, and a joint announcement is being finalised, provided certain third parties did not interfere, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday.
Israeli military says two soldiers killed in southern Lebanon
Two Israeli reserve soldiers were killed during combat in southern Lebanon, the military said Thursday, where Israel has been fighting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Tanker reports explosions in Hormuz: maritime agency
An oil tanker reported hearing explosions while transiting the Hormuz strait near Oman, a British maritime agency said Thursday, as Tehran and Muscat hold talks to jointly manage the key waterway.
“The Master of a tanker has reported hearing two explosions whilst transiting in the Strait of Hormuz,” the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on X, an incident that occurred about ten miles (16 kilometres) southeast of Kumzar, Oman.
“The report confirms that crew and vessel are safe. No environmental damage has been reported,” UKMTO said.
Iran said Wednesday it is in the “final stage” of drafting an agreement with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz , and US President Donald Trump has said a deal could be announced this week.
US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged Wednesday that it can seem like the U.S. is not making progress in Iran, describing the effort to end the war as “messy” and that “it’s going to take some time”.
The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed Wednesday they had fired ballistic missiles toward a Saudi oil tanker on the Red Sea off the Saudi port of Yanbu, without providing evidence. There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.
The shaky ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah grew more volatile Wednesday, as the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning to residents of the southern Lebanese village of Mansouri, the first such warning in weeks. Later, the Israeli military said it had begun conducting “precise strikes” in southern Lebanon in response to what it described as “a blatant violation of the ceasefire” that had largely held since June 20.
