08:28 AM EDT, 03/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity futures were lower pre-bell Thursday as traders monitored the latest developments in the Middle East.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.9% lower, S&P 500 futures were down 1%, and Nasdaq futures were 1.1% lower.

On Wednesday, Iran rejected Washington's proposal to pause the war in the Middle East, with Tehran's top diplomat saying his country's government has not engaged in talks to end the conflict and does not intend to enter any negotiations, according to media reports.

Oil prices were higher, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude up 4.3% at $101.47 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 4.3% higher at $94.25 per barrel.

The weekly jobless claims bulletin, scheduled for release at 8:30 am ET, is expected to show an increase to 210,000 in the week ended March 21 from 205,000 in the prior week, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg.