Marc Filippino

Good morning from the Financial Times.

Today is Wednesday, May 27th, and this is your FT News Briefing.

Iran is criticizing the U.S.

for recent strikes, and BP is going through yet another shakeup.

Plus, international companies are loving U.K.

mid-caps.

We'll tell you why.

I'm Mark Filippino, and here's the news you need to start your day.

Iran has accused the U.S.

of, quote, flagrant violations of the ceasefire they agreed to in early April.

This comes after American forces on Monday carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and boats.

But despite this flare up, back channel talks continued.

Iran's top negotiators returned to Tehran late yesterday after two days of talks in Doha.

The two countries are trying to finalize an agreement that would extend a ceasefire by 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The deal would also lay the foundation for negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.

The cost of oil jumped yesterday, with Brent crude up a little bit more than 3.5%.

BP has removed its chair, Albert Manifold.

The UK oil major cited serious concerns about his conduct.

This is the latest blow to BP, which has suffered years of strategic and boardroom upheaval.

I'm joined now by the FT's energy correspondent, Verity Radcliffe, to discuss this.