US oil prices have jumped 5 per cent amid fears that America’s ceasefire with Iran may not hold for long.
West Texas Intermediate – the US benchmark for oil – spiked in the minutes after markets opened, following yesterday’s massive fall brought about by Tuesday night’s announcement of a temporary ceasefire.
The price of Brent crude – the international benchmark – also rose, climbing up by 2.7 per cent to $97.23 a barrel after trading began.
Following Donald Trump’s 11th hour announcement that the US and Iran has reached a temporary ceasefire, the world breathed a sigh of relief as it appeared that the Middle East war may finally be drawing to a close.
But just hours after the ceasefire’s announcement, Israel declared that Lebanon was not part of the deal and began a massive strikes campaign on targets across the country which has so far left nearly 200 dead and nearly 900 injured, overwhelming the country’s already beleaguered healthcare system and infuriating Iran, whose foreign minister said: ‘The Iran-US Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the US must choose – ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both.’
Compounding fears that a ceasefire may not hold, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu today said that Israel would keep striking targets belonging to Iran-backed Hezbollah.
‘We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, precision, and determination,’ Netanyahu said on his personal X account.
‘Our message is clear: anyone who acts against Israeli civilians – we will strike them. We will continue to hit Hezbollah wherever necessary, until we fully restore security to the residents of the north’ of Israel, he added.
Breaking:US oil spikes amid ceasefire concerns
West Texas Intermediate – the US standard for oil – has spiked by 5% since markets opened, amid concerns that the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran may not hold.
Netanyahu: Israel will continue strikes against Hezbollah ‘wherever necessary’
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israel would keep hitting Iran-backed Hezbollah ‘wherever necessary’, the day after Israeli strikes pummelled Lebanon.
‘We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, precision, and determination,’ Netanyahu said on his personal X account.
‘Our message is clear: anyone who acts against Israeli civilians – we will strike them. We will continue to hit Hezbollah wherever necessary, until we fully restore security to the residents of the north’ of Israel, he added.
WATCH: Vance says Israel needs to ‘check themselves a little’ in Lebanon
Putin wants UK distracted by Middle East, says Healey
UK defence secretary John Healey today said at a press conference: ‘I’m pretty clear that Putin would want us to be distracted by the Middle East.’
He added: ‘What I’m setting out today demonstrates that we are not just exposing his covert operation, but we are saying to him that we recognise Russia as the primary threat to the UK and to NATO, and that we will not take our eyes off Putin, whilst at the same time we act to protect our British interests and our British allies in the Middle East.’
Iranian parliament speaker says violations of ceasefire carry ‘STRONG responses’
Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, has warned that violations of the truce will ‘carry explicit costs and STRONG responses.’
He added: ‘Lebanon and the entire Resistance Axis, as Iran’s allies, form an inseparable part of the ceasefire.
‘[Pakistani] PM Shehbaz Sharif publicly and clearly stressed the Lebanon issue; there is no room for denial and backtracking.’
Netanyahu criminal trial to continue after wartime pause
The criminal trial of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to continue on Sunday after weeks of delays because of the war.
A hearing is scheduled for Sunday at 9:30am in the Jerusalem District Court.
The Israeli PM is standing trial accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in connection with three separate cases. He denies wrongdoing.
Trump has repeatedly urged Israel’s president Isaac Herzog to drop the cases against Netanyahu.
WATCH: Daily Mail explores conflict after two-week ceasefire declared
‘Our fingers remain on the trigger’, says Iran’s president as he accuses Israel of breaking ceasefire
Iran’s president has claimed Israel’s incursion into Lebanon is a ‘blatant violation’ of the ceasefire.
In a post on X, Masoud Pezeshkian also claimed Iran will ‘never abandon’ Lebanon and their ‘fingers remain on the trigger’.
He wrote: ‘Israel’s renewed incursion into Lebanon is a blatant violation of the initial ceasefire agreement.
‘This is a dangerous sign of deception and lack of commitment to potential agreements. The continuation of these actions will render negotiations meaningless.
‘Our fingers remain on the trigger. Iran will never abandon its Lebanese sisters and brothers.’
READ MORE: Iran says Trump BREACHED ceasefire after president claimed victory as fresh bombing rocks the Middle East
Lebanon ‘inseparable’ part of ceasefire says Iran’s parliament speaker
Iran’s parliament speaker warned that Lebanon is an ‘inseparable’ part of the ceasefire.
In a post on X, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote: ‘Lebanon and the entire Resistance Axis, as Iran’s allies, form an inseparable part of the ceasefire.’
He added: ‘Ceasefire violations carry explicit costs and STRONG responses. Extinguish the fire immediately.’
WATCH: NATO chief praises Trump’s leadership through the war
EU hits out at Strait of Hormuz toll idea
EU leaders have roundly condemned suggestions of a toll being implemented for vessels seeking to navigate through the Strait of Hormuz.
The EU said that freedom of navigation in the waterway must be ensured with ‘no payment or toll whatsoever’, after Iran suggested it could charge for letting ships pass.
‘International law provides for the freedom of navigation, which means… basically no payment or toll whatsoever,’ European Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni said. ‘Freedom of navigation is a public good and needs to be ensured.’
Yesterday Donald Trump called a US-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz a ‘joint venture’ as Tehran prepares to charge ships up to $1 million per vessel to pass.
Key Updates
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Healey: Not in ‘Britain’s national interests’ to deploy all military assets to Middle East
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US oil spikes amid ceasefire concerns
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READ MORE: Map ‘shows heavily mined Strait of Hormuz’ as Tehran ‘demands $1m crypto tolls’
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Russia to see £6.7billion windfall from oil and gas crisis
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Netanyahu: Israel will continue strikes against Hezbollah ‘wherever necessary’
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Lebanon death toll rises to 203
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EU’s foreign policy chief says Lebanon should be included in ceasefire deal
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Meloni: Israel close to the point of no return
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Israeli minister publicly criticises US-Iran deal
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Iran ‘may have placed seamines in Strait of Hormuz’ during war
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UN chief warns Israeli strikes pose ‘grave risk’ to US-Iran truce
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Pakistan imposes strict security in capital ahead of talks
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Hezbollah chief’s right-hand man killed in strike, says Israel
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Trump warns ‘all US’ ships, aircraft and soldiers will ‘remain in place’
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JD Vance warns Iran would be ‘dumb’ to pull out of ceasefire
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PICTURED: Beirut reels from deadly Israeli strikes
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Lebanon declares national day of mourning after Israeli strikes
