Iran-US war latest: Rubio warns president Trump won’t be pressured into ‘bad deal’ as Israel and Lebanon trade blows

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the US will not allow Iran to use America’s economic situation as “leverage” to pressure President Donald Trump into making a “bad deal”.

“What [President Trump] is making clear is if the Iranians think that they are going to use our domestic politics to pressure him into a bad deal, that's not going to happen,” he told NBC News on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Israel and Lebanon have continued to trade blows as representatives for the countries took part in a day of direct discussions in Washington on Thursday.

A senior US state department official said that talks had been “productive and positive” and will continue on Friday. Lebanon is to demand a ceasefire, according to a senior Lebanese official while Israel will push for Hezbollah to disarm. The militant group has condemned the talks.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday as Trump sought China’s backing in resolving the lingering crisis with peace talks to end the conflict still on hold. Rubio said China had agreed that the vital shipping route should not be militarised.

An unidentified ship was boarded by “unauthorised personnel” off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, the British maritime security agency UKMTO reported.

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Iran says ships entering Hormuz must cooperate

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has said that ships entering the Strait of Hormuz must cooperate with the Iranian navy after reports emerged of a ship being seized outside a UAE port.

Araghchi said: “In our view, the Strait of Hormuz is open to all commercial ships, but they must cooperate with our naval forces."Araghchi is in India for the Brics summit.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said it received reports that the ship seized yesterday was taken by unauthorised personnel while anchored 38 nautical miles northeast of the UAE port of Fujairah.

Indian authorities said that an Indian-flagged cargo ship sank off the coast of Oman after an attack sparked a fire aboard the vessel while it was en route from Somalia to Sharjah, another UAE port. They did not say who attacked the ship.

India’s foreign ministry called the incident “unacceptable” and condemned continued attacks on commercial shipping and civilian mariners.

India hikes petrol and diesel prices

India has raised petrol and diesel prices ​for the first time in four ‌years by about Rs3 ($0.03) per litre, according to retailers in Delhi, as the country aims to ​recoup some of the losses incurred ⁠due to higher global oil ​prices.

India is ‌among ⁠the last major economies to raise retail fuel prices. A litre of diesel in Delhi will cost Rs90.67 ($0.95) and ​petrol Rs97.77 ($1.02).

While multiple countries in South Asia had hiked their fuel prices shortly after the onset of the US and Israel war in Iran, India waited until after key state elections were over.

Rubio warns president Trump won’t be pressured into ‘bad deal

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the US will not allow Iran to use America’s economic situation as “leverage” to pressure President Donald Trump into making a “bad deal”.

“What [President Trump] is making clear is if the Iranians think that they are going to use our domestic politics to pressure him into a bad deal, that's not going to happen,” he told NBC News.

Trump says he won't be patient with Iran for much longer

President Donald Trump said was running out of patience with Iran, as he urged Tehran to reach a deal with Washington.

"I am not going ‌to be ‌much more patient," ⁠Trump said in an interview aired last night on Fox News.

"They ‌should ​make a ‌deal."Trump has previously dismissed Iran's proposal as "garbage".

Oil prices rise after attacks and seizures of ships crossing Hormuz

Oil prices rose this morning as market concerns persisted over ship attacks and seizures despite Iran saying ​about 30 vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz, ‌while the US and Chinese presidents were set for a second day of talks in Beijing.

Brent crude oil futures rose 60 cents, or 0.57 per cent, to $106.32 a barrel ​by 0100 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate futures were ​up 54 cents, or 0.53 per cent, to $101.71.

Yang An, analyst at Haitong Futures, said the main driver of oil prices was still tight supply.

"Oil prices ​swung several times ​yesterday but still ⁠closed near the day's high," he said. "Ships passing through the strait eased some market concerns, but not enough ​to change the strong trend driven by tight supply."

Iran war briefing:

• President Donald Trump says he won't be 'much more patient' with Iran as he urged Tehran to reach a deal with Washington
• US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has claimed that Chinese officials made clear at the US-China summit that it wants to see the Strait of Hormuz reopen without restrictions or tolls and that Beijing will act pragmatically to limit military support for Iran
• Secretary of state Marco Rubio has defended the war on Iran, claiming Tehran was building a massive missile and drone arsenal to eventually protect a nuclear weapons programme
• Oil prices rose today as market concerns persisted over ship attacks and seizures despite Iran saying ​about 30 vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz

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