by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
TEHRAN/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire that was to begin Friday afternoon, Worthy News learned.
It came as oil prices began falling amid hopes the agreement will further bolster a potential U.S.-Iran deal to end the war.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also acknowledged an end to Israeli attacks toward Iran but warned Tehran that Israel will respond “with force” to future attacks.
Exchanges of fire between the two foes have proved a sticking point in broader peace efforts to end the war in the Middle East.
They have continued to exchange hostilities even after an agreement was struck last weekend between Washington and Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
As for Hezbollah, a U.S. official said the ceasefire was due to begin at 4 p.m. local time.
On Thursday night, Iran canceled planned peace talks in Switzerland with U.S. officials including Vice-President JD Vance because of Israeli strikes against its ally, Hezbollah, in Lebanon.
With a ceasefire emerging, oil prices turned lower on Friday, with Brent crude down 0.8 percent at $79.25 a barrel.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits remained relatively low in early August, offering another sign that widespread layoffs have yet to take hold even as hiring across the U.S. economy remains subdued.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a second preemptive airstrike in Gaza in two days Thursday, targeting a Hamas terror cell in Khan Yunis that Israeli military officials said was preparing an attack against Israeli forces.
The Trump administration has announced nearly $2 billion in health and humanitarian assistance for faith-based organizations, placing several major Christian ministries at the center of a reshaped U.S. foreign-aid strategy following sweeping cuts to USAID programs.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar has cast doubt on a controversial Russian-led expansion of Hungary’s only nuclear power plant after record-low levels of the Danube River nearly forced its existing reactors into a complete shutdown.
The United States is preparing to send the USS George Washington aircraft carrier to the Middle East, replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln after an exceptionally long deployment supporting American military operations against Iran, according to an exclusive report by The Wall Street Journal.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are moving to deepen military cooperation under a new mutual-defense pact that Israeli analysts say could reshape the Middle East’s security architecture while reducing dependence on the United States and bypassing Israel.
Americans added another $21 billion in credit card debt during the second quarter of 2026, pushing outstanding balances to roughly $1.26 trillion and bringing consumer borrowing close to its record high.