The EU has joined the US-led "Operation Economic Outcast" campaign aimed at increasing financial pressure on Iran, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

"The European Union has officially joined Operation Economic Outcast and we appreciate their strong and early stance," Bessent said on US social media platform X.

He said the US “stands firm with our allies” in seeking to prevent the Iranian government from using the global financial system “to fund its nuclear ambitions, weapons programs, and terror proxies.”

Humanitarian workers said they had facilitated the transfer to Lebanon of four more people detained by Israel, a day after another person was freed.

"The International Committee of the Red Cross, at the request of the relevant parties, facilitated the transfer to Lebanon of five individuals released from Israeli detention," the ICRC said in a statement. "One individual was transferred on Thursday, and four others on Friday," it added.

Diesel hit a new record price in the US, soaring to an average of $5.85 a gallon for the first time ever as the 6-month-long war with Iran continues to disrupt the world’s flow of fuel.

Higher diesel prices are driving up transport and delivery costs, forcing some businesses to pass additional expenses on to consumers. Grocery prices could face particular pressure as produce, meat and other perishables rely heavily on diesel-powered transport and farm equipment.

Israel's defence minister hailed the capture of a strategic highland from Hezbollah as solidifying Israel's "security zone" in Lebanon and vowed that troops would not leave it.

"The capture of the Ali Tahar ridge marks the completion of the phase of securing control in the security zone in southern Lebanon," Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

South Korea has not reached a final decision but “a review is still under way” on any deployment of forces to the Strait of Hormuz, a presidential official clarified.

"South Korea may be able to make military contributions to global efforts to ensure free navigation through the strait, to the extent that such contributions do not compromise its defence readiness, if it decides to do so," a presidential official told Seoul-based Yonhap news agency.

Earlier, an unnamed Defence Ministry official told SBS broadcaster that Seoul was making "concrete preparations" to dispatch naval forces to the strait.

The South Korean military is making "concrete preparations" to deploy troops to the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report.

"We are making concrete preparations to dispatch naval forces to the Strait of Hormuz," a National Defence Ministry official told Australia's broadcaster SBS.

The report said the deployment, which is underway, includes P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, an explosive ordnance disposal team and a logistics support ship.

The European Union has joined the US in its economic pressure campaign against Iran, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said.

"The European Union has officially joined Operation Economic Outcast, and we appreciate their strong and early stance. The United States stands firm with our allies in ensuring the murderous Iranian regime cannot exploit the global financial system to fund its nuclear ambitions, weapons programs, and terror proxies," Bessent said on X.

"The world is sending a clear message to the Iranian regime: We will not stop until every remaining financial lifeline has been severed."

The Yemeni army has said that 50 members of the Houthi group were killed or injured after it thwarted an attack aimed at taking control of a road linking the cities of Taiz and Mocha in western Yemen.

The army's Taiz Axis command said the Houthi attack targeted the Maqbanah and Al-Kadhah fronts and aimed to seize control of the road linking Taiz and Mocha in western Yemen.

Taiz Axis forces and the government-aligned National Resistance launched a joint counterattack targeting Houthi positions on the Al-Kadhah and Maqbanah fronts, it said.

US vice president acknowledges that civilian casualties can occur during combat, as Tehran reports 18 deaths and 142 injuries in recent American strikes, including casualties at a wedding gathering.

US president rejects shortage claims and says US is stockpiling munitions amid military action in Iran.