LIVE | Iran threatens war 'beyond the region' in case of new attacks

The Revolutionary Guards, Iran's ideological army, vowed Wednesday to extend the war "beyond the region" of the Middle East in case the United States and Israel attack the country again.

This statement comes as a fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8 between Tehran and Washington, established after more than a month of war triggered by the Israeli-U.S. attack on Iran on Feb. 28.

Oil prices were down Wednesday following the passage of a South Korean oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz.

Around 9:40 a.m. GMT, the price of a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for July delivery fell 1.79% to $109.29. Its U.S. equivalent, a barrel of West Texas Intermediate for delivery in the same month, fell 1.64% to $102.44.

A South Korean oil tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday in a crossing facilitated by Tehran, Seoul announced, while traffic through that strategic passage remains virtually paralyzed as a result of the war in the Middle East.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East would be "inopportune," a day after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to resume strikes against Iran.

Several Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed 19 people, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported Tuesday.

The Islamist movement Hezbollah reported clashes with Israeli soldiers in the south of the country.

Israel, for its part, announced the death of one of its soldiers in the same area, raising to 22 the number of Israelis killed in Lebanon since the start of the conflict.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday that talks with Iran are making good progress, but Washington is "ready and prepared" to resume military operations against Iran.

Donald Trump warned that the United States may strike Iran again, a day after saying he called off a full-scale attack in hopes of reaching a deal to end the war.