Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was heading to Iran Sunday following a request from the United States and Saudi Arabia for him to try to defuse rising tensions in the Gulf.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan heads to Iran as tensions rise in Gulf

Saudi and Iranian leaders are this week walking back from the brink, signalling that they want to avoid outright military confrontation and manage rather than resolve differences.

Gulf straddles the edge of war and peace

Fears of a potential military conflict with Iran may have opened the door to a Saudi-Iranian dialogue against the backdrop of a rethink of US military logistics, involving at least a gradual partial relocation to the United States of command and control operations based in the Gulf for almost four decades.

Can Saudi Arabia and Iran get along?

With nearly 30,000 migrant workers employed on World Cup construction projects, Qatar's labour rights have come under global scrutiny.

Qatar’s labour rights questioned with thousands of migrants working on World Cup projects

As French, Pakistani and other leaders seek to engineer a meeting between the US and Iranian Presidents on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, big power rivalry could rack up tension in the waters of the Gulf and the Indian Ocean.

Big power rivalry in the Gulf requires a US strategy rethink

The United States announced Friday that it was sending military reinforcements to the Gulf region following attacks on Saudi oil facilities that it attributes to Iran, just hours after President Donald Trump ordered new sanctions on Tehran.

US sending more troops to Gulf, Trump announces Iran sanctions

Neither Saudi Arabia nor the United States is rushing to retaliate for a brazen, allegedly Iranian attack that severely damaged two of the kingdom’s key oil facilities.

Saudi oil attacks put US commitments to the test

Two Iranian companies signed a $440 million agreement Saturday to develop a gas field in the sensitive Gulf, with the oil ministry saying it showed arch-foe the United States could not stop the country with sanctions.

Iranian companies ink deal to develop gas field in tense Gulf

Iran’s ambassador to India, Ali Chegini, recently urged New Delhi to follow an independent line and take advantage of the opportunities presented by Iran in the oil and gas sector.

Iran: Jettisoning energy stakes for America’s sake

Little suggests that fabulously wealthy Gulf states and their Middle Eastern and North African beneficiaries have recognised what is perhaps the most important lesson of this year’s popular uprisings in Algeria and Sudan and the 2011 Arab revolts: All that glitters is not gold.

Gulf economies: All that glitters is not gold

Japan will not join a US-led security mission to protect merchant vessels passing through key Middle Eastern waterways, but will consider deploying its naval force independently, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Japan won't join US-led maritime coalition in Gulf: Report

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday will participate at a Janmashtami event at Gulf's oldest temple - Shreenathji (Shree Krishna) Hindu temple in Bahrain built by the Thattai Hindu community.

PM Modi to participate in Janmashtami event at Gulf's oldest temple on Sunday

A third British warship is heading to the Gulf, the Royal Navy announced Saturday, amid heightened tensions in the region. Britain has already sent the HMS Kent to cover for frigate HMS Montrose while it undergoes maintenance in nearby Bahrain, and is now redirecting the Type 45 destroyer HMS Defender from its mission to the Pacific.

Britain sends another warship to Gulf

Iran displayed what it described as a domestically-built long-range, mobile surface-to-air missile system on Thursday, Iranian state media reported. The announcement comes at a time of rising tension between Iran and the United States.

Iran displays domestically built mobile missile defence system

Poland's parliament speaker, Marek Kuchcinski, said on Thursday he would resign after it was revealed that he used government aircraft for private trips by family members.

Poland's parliament speaker resigns amid private flights scandal

The US maritime agency has told US flagged commercial vessels they should send transit plans in advance to American and British naval authorities if they intend to sail in Gulf waters following several incidents over tankers involving Iran.

US tells commercial vessels to send Gulf transit plans in advance

An Iranian general said on Sunday the chances of a conflict breaking out in the Gulf region have decreased, after a spate of hostile acts in the key waterway. "At first glance, it may seem that the situation in the Persian Gulf is heading towards a military conflict but when studying the situation more deeply, we see that chances for such a conflict become less probable," said Brigadier General Ahmadreza Pourdastan.

Iran general says chances of Gulf conflict decreasing

The commander of a British warship accompanying UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions with Iran said Wednesday that Tehran appeared to be testing the Royal Navy's resolve.

UK warship commander says Iran trying 'to test' Britain in Gulf

China and Russia are as much allies as they are rivals. A joint Tajik-Chinese military exercise in a Tajik region bordering on China’s troubled north-western region of Xinjiang suggests that increased Chinese-Russian military cooperation has not eroded gradually mounting rivalry in Central Asia, long viewed by Moscow as its backyard.

Shifting Sands: Chinese encroachment in Central Asia and challenges to US supremacy in Gulf

By Tony Walker In a world run ragged by multiple crises and an unravelling of American global leadership, military confrontation in the Gulf poses risks that extend well beyond the region itself.

Iran and US refusing to budge as tit-for-tat ship seizures in Middle East raise the temperature

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the morning from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - July 21th, 2019

Britain said Iran seized two oil tankers in the Gulf on Friday (July 19) and told Tehran to return the vessels or face consequences in the latest confrontation to ratchet up tension along a vital international oil shipping route. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had captured the British-flagged Stena Impero, announcing the move two weeks after the British navy seized an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said the second vessel, the British-operated Mesdar, had not been seized. It said the ship had been allowed to continue its course after being given a warning over safety and environmental issues.

UK: Seizure of tanker is not acceptable at all

Iran seizes British oil tanker, Indians among 23 crew members on board

Britain said Iran seized two oil tankers in the Gulf on Friday (July 19) and told Tehran to return the vessels or face consequences in the latest confrontation to ratchet up tension along a vital international oil shipping route. New visuals of the incident have been released now by Iran's Revolutionary Guards. In an exclusive conversation with WION, the British High Commission to India has said that the UK has been deeply concerned over Iran's activities in the Persian Gulf. The High Commission said that UK ships have been advised to stay out of the Strait of Hormuz for an interim period.

Watch: Iran taking control of UK ship

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