Israel continued bombardment across Lebanon Thursday, dealing further blows to the U.S.–Iran cease-fire after a wave of strikes this week killed more than 250 people and prompting concern that a fragile truce could unravel as mediators prepare for further talks.
In Pakistan, authorities locked down the capital Islamabad in anticipation of the war's first peace talks, cutting off all access to a 3-kilometer (2-mile) zone around the five-star luxury Serena Hotel. Both the U.S. and Iranian delegations are expected to stay at the hotel, which told all guests to check out until Sunday as it had been "requisitioned" for "an important event."
But there was no sign Iran had lifted its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused the worst disruption to global energy supplies in history. Tehran said there would be no deal as long as Israel was striking Lebanon.
The spot price that European and Asian refineries pay now for oil rose further to record levels near $150 a barrel, with even higher prices for some products such as jet fuel.
Israel, which invaded Lebanon last month in parallel with the war on Iran to root out the Iran-aligned group Hezbollah, says its actions there are not covered by the cease-fire announced late Tuesday by Trump.
