Oil prices hold near $71.76 a barrel

Brent crude futures traded near $71.76 a barrel on Friday after slipping only slightly during the week. Traders cited expectations of a U.S.-Iran agreement as the main factor supporting prices.

More commercial vessels are now transiting the Strait of Hormuz with their automatic identification systems turned on. The chief executive of a Greek maritime risk firm said the change shows growing confidence among ship operators. The same executive noted that vessels continue to avoid the central part of the strait due to possible sea mines.

Large ships are using either a southern route under U.S. escort or a northern route through Iranian territorial waters.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other officials attended events at Tehran’s main mosque. Some residents in Tehran said they would not participate. A visual artist and a painter told Al Jazeera the ceremonies would not affect their daily lives and questioned the use of public funds.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon The Israeli army said it struck 10 Hezbollah infrastructure sites and a truck transporting weapons in southern Lebanon. The military described the action as a response to alleged ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. The statement could not be independently verified.

At least 100,000 Lebanese children could miss the start of the school year unless damaged school facilities are repaired, according to UNICEF.