-- US equity futures were lower pre-bell Thursday after Iran accused the US of violating the two-week ceasefire agreement between the two nations announced on late Tuesday.
Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.5% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 0.4%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.3% lower.
Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said that the violations of the ceasefire agreement include Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon, drone incursions into Iran, and the denial of Iran's right to enrich uranium. The White House has said that Lebanon is not part of the agreement.
Iran said it once again halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Israel's attack on Lebanon.
Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 3.1% at $97.92 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 4.4% higher at $98.57 per barrel.
The February core personal consumption expenditures price index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, is expected to increase 0.4% to match the prior month's gain, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Initial jobless claims are projected to have grown to 210,000 in the week ended April 4 from 202,000 the prior week. No change is expected for Q4 GDP, which is seen holding at a 0.7% annual rate.