Main developments
US stocks closed higher after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had approved direct talks with Lebanon “as soon as possible”.
Wall Street’s blue-chip S&P 500 gained 0.6 per cent, notching its longest winning streak since October. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.8 per cent.
Oil prices edged higher but remained below $100 a barrel.
Saudi Arabia’s oil production capacity has fallen by 600,000 barrels a day because of recent attacks, the energy ministry said on Thursday.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have simmered despite the ceasefire deal agreed this week between Washington and Tehran.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Israeli attacks on Lebanon were a “clear violation” of Tehran’s ceasefire agreement with Washington and would “render negotiations meaningless”.
The US and Israel said Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire deal. European leaders called for Lebanon to be part of the agreement.
Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least 303 people were killed during Israeli strikes on Wednesday.
Only a handful of ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire went into effect.
Donald Trump dispatched a delegation led by vice-president JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and the US president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad for talks this weekend.
One person killed in attacks on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure
A Saudi Arabian national was killed and seven others were wounded in attacks that targeted the kingdom’s energy infrastructure in recent days, the energy ministry said.
The person killed and those wounded worked for Saudi Energy, the ministry added. It was the first reported death of a Saudi Arabian citizen from the attacks since the start of the conflict.
The kingdom has come under repeated missile and drone attacks from Iran, but most were intercepted, authorities said. Two foreign workers were killed after a military projectile fell on a residential site last month.
Iran denies launching attacks during ceasefire
Iran has denied launching any attacks during the ceasefire after Kuwait reported that it had been hit by missile fire.
Iran had “not launched any missiles towards any country during the ceasefire hours”, the Revolutionary Guards said to state media, adding that they would make statements about any attacks if they took place.