US-Iran ceasefire on tenuous ground; Trump issues warning. Live updates

 

 

 

 

 

President Donald Trump's ceasefire with Iran was on tenuous ground Thursday after Israel launched its deadliest wave of strikes on Lebanon since the war began and Tehran vowed not to desert its allies.

A day after announcing the Iran war ceasefire, Trump took to social media to warn the country that if the "REAL AGREEMENT" was not complied with, the U.S. would respond with "bigger, better, and stronger" attacks. He also warned Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, where ship traffic has remained at a trickle.

The threat comes amid deep confusion over whether the two-week ceasefire agreement extends to Lebanon, where health officials say more than 200 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Wednesday. The U.S. and Israel maintain that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire; Iran and Pakistan, which has been involved in negotiations, said the temporary truce includes Lebanon.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed that Israel "will continue to strike" Hezbollah. Iran's parliamentary speaker said the attacks violate the truce and promised "strong responses" if they continue. It remains unclear how Israel's continued strikes on Lebanon would affect the delicate ceasefire or upcoming peace talks in Pakistan.

America has lots of oil. Why are gas prices up?

Daniel de Visé

The United States is less reliant on foreign oil than in times past. We are the world’s leading oil producer. And of the oil we do import, only 8% comes from the Middle East.

Why, then, have gasoline prices gone through the roof at America’s pumps during the Iran war?

America produces more than 13 million barrels of crude oil a day, as of January. We export more oil than we import. Based on those facts, you might think a war in the Middle East would have no bearing on gas prices in the United States. You would be wrong.

“It’s a global market,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics. “So, oil literally flows to the highest price. If a tanker can get a higher price in Malaysia than it can in Rotterdam than it can in Rio de Janeiro, it’s going to go to Malaysia.”

When the United States began airstrikes against Iran, oil prices spiked around the globe, including here.

Even with a fragile ceasefire in place, many observers expect gas prices to remain elevated for months to come.

Israeli official says Hezbollah is seeking ceasefire after missile barrage

Christopher Cann

Israel's defense minister said his country's military targeted hundreds of Hezbollah militants in a barrage of missile fire a day earlier and alleged the Iranian proxy is now seeking a ceasefire.

In a video address, Israel Katz said that Israeli officials have insisted on separating the war with Iran with the fighting in Lebanon to allow Israel to continue its large-scale military operation in southern Lebanon. USA TODAY could not immediately verify Katz's claims about Hezbollah seeking a ceasefire.

His comments come after Israel launched its largest attack on Lebanon since the war began, killing over 200 people and injuring more than 1,000 on Wednesday, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Those continued attacks have put the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran in jeopardy as countries give conflicting accounts over whether the truce applies to Lebanon.

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett on Thursday said Iran will allow more ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.

"They have said that they're going to start letting many more ships through. We'll watch as the day progresses whether that's true or not," he told Fox News.

A day earlier, Iranian state media reported that the country's military was again closing off the strait because of Israel's airstrikes on Lebanon. The White House disputed those reports but reiterated that the two-week ceasefire hinges on Iran opening the shipping lane.

Hassett on Thursday acknowledged the confusion over the ceasefire but said he expects a round of in-person talks in Pakistan to clear up any remaining questions.

"We expect that there will be a little bit of cleaning up to do in the first couple of days. We aren't surprised about what happened yesterday but we expect that to simmer down," he said, adding: "In the end, I think we're not going to have complete clarity until we finish the negotiations this weekend."