Before becoming an Advisor to the President of the United States, Kushner was, and some would argue that he still is, a real estate developer who married Donald Trump's daughter.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-unveils-middle-east-peace-plan-draws-flak-from-palestinians-277189">Also read: Palestinians livid as Trump unveils Middle-East plan with Jerusalem as Capital</a>

Per his new position, Kushner was tasked with promoting American innovation, overseeing arms sales to Saudi Arabia and resolving the US opioid crisis.

Many have speculated that Kushner was also appointed to oversee the conflict between Israel and Palestine even though he has no experience of Middle East diplomacy simply because he has close ties to the Netanyahu family.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-unveils-middle-east-peace-plan-jerusalem-to-be-undivided-capital-277163">Also Read: Trump unveils Middle East peace plan; Jerusalem to be undivided capital</a>

A lack of experience in Middle East negotiations could be an asset in forging a peace agreement, compared to the well-read who struggled with the matter for years in an attempt to establish checkpoints and access to Gaza.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-insists-israeli-palestinian-plan-has-a-chance-276949">Also Read: Trump insists Israeli-Palestinian plan has a 'chance'</a>

Among the matters Jared Kushner was charged with when President Trump was elected, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was one that the POTUS's son-in-law decided to begin with a completely blank slate. He was adamant at the outset to never discuss history with the Palestinians or the Israelis or anyone else.

A daring approach this was to take, especially in a region steeped in conflict since time immemorial. Kushner decided to deal with the problem by engineering a proposed settlement without any consultation with either of the parties involved. That was how this "ultimate deal" was conceived, the one Trump is expected to formally present to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister at the White House.

Details of the deal have been widely criticized for favouring Israel by opening the door to its annexation of large parts of the occupied territories and giving it almost total control of Jerusalem.

Kushner's team was an obvious clue as to where the process was heading, for it included individuals such as David Friedman, a lawyer who had close ties to the Jewish settler movement in the occupied territories and the guy who Trump appointed as US ambassador to Israel.

Friedman has often likened members of a liberal US Jewish group to Nazi collaborators for their criticism of the Israeli government’s actions and questioned the need for a Palestinian State.

Palestinians were alienated by the Trump administration with a series of actions favouring Israel, such as slashing funding for Palestinian refugees and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem.

Kushner then garnered support from Egypt’s authoritarian president, the kings of Saudi Arabia and Jordan to pressure the Palestinian Authority into going along with the White House plan.

The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman was among those wooed by Kushner, which some have speculated - alongside military contracts - could be the reason behind inaction on part of the Trump administration over the murder of the Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Before becoming an Advisor to the President of the United States, Kushner was, and some would argue that he still is, a real estate developer who married Donald Trump's daughter.

Before becoming an Advisor to the President of the United States, Kushner was, and some would argue that he still is, a real estate developer who married Donald Trump's daughter. Also read: Palestinians livid as Trump unveils Middle-East plan with Jerusalem as Capital Per his new position, Kushner was tasked with promoting American innovation, overseeing arms sales to Saudi Arabia and resolving the US opioid crisis. Many have speculated that Kushner was also appointed to oversee the conflict between Israel and Palestine even though he has no experience of Middle East diplomacy simply because he has close ties to the Netanyahu family. Also Read: Trump unveils Middle East peace plan; Jerusalem to be undivided capital A lack of experience in Middle East negotiations could be an asset in forging a peace agreement, compared to the well-read who struggled with the matter for years in an attempt to establish checkpoints and access to Gaza. Also Read: Trump insists Israeli-Palestinian plan has a 'chance' Among the matters Jared Kushner was charged with when President Trump was elected, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was one that the POTUS's son-in-law decided to begin with a completely blank slate. He was adamant at the outset to never discuss history with the Palestinians or the Israelis or anyone else. A daring approach this was to take, especially in a region steeped in conflict since time immemorial. Kushner decided to deal with the problem by engineering a proposed settlement without any consultation with either of the parties involved. That was how this "ultimate deal" was conceived, the one Trump is expected to formally present to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister at the White House. Details of the deal have been widely criticized for favouring Israel by opening the door to its annexation of large parts of the occupied territories and giving it almost total control of Jerusalem. Kushner's team was an obvious clue as to where the process was heading, for it included individuals such as David Friedman, a lawyer who had close ties to the Jewish settler movement in the occupied territories and the guy who Trump appointed as US ambassador to Israel. Friedman has often likened members of a liberal US Jewish group to Nazi collaborators for their criticism of the Israeli government’s actions and questioned the need for a Palestinian State. Palestinians were alienated by the Trump administration with a series of actions favouring Israel, such as slashing funding for Palestinian refugees and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. Kushner then garnered support from Egypt’s authoritarian president, the kings of Saudi Arabia and Jordan to pressure the Palestinian Authority into going along with the White House plan. The Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman was among those wooed by Kushner, which some have speculated - alongside military contracts - could be the reason behind inaction on part of the Trump administration over the murder of the Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Jared Kushner: Meet the man behind Middle-East peace plan

India, the world's third-biggest oil consumer, imports about 84% of its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/as-wider-trade-dispute-looms-malaysia-talks-to-india-over-palm-curbs-274679">oil needs</a> and traditionally relies on the Middle East for the majority of its supply.

However, the region's share of India's crude shrank to 60% last year - down from 65% a year ago and the lowest since 2015 - as record output from the United States and countries like Russia offered opportunities for importers to tap other sources.

India shipped in 2.68 million barrels per day (BPD) oil from the Middle East in 2019, down about 10% from 2018, and around 1.8 million BPD from elsewhere.

Deeper than expected oil output cuts by OPEC and allies, shouldered by Saudi Arabia, and less supply from Iran due to US&nbsp;sanctions also dented India's intake of Middle Eastern oil, said Ehsan Ul Haq, analyst with Refinitiv.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indias-november-oil-import-growth-fastest-in-seven-months-sources-270035">India's November oil import growth fastest in seven months</a>

Last year, sanctions and output cuts by OPEC and allies, known as OPEC+, reduced the group's supplies by 1.9 million BPD from 2018, while non-OPEC supply rose by 2 million BPD, the International Energy Agency said in its latest report.

<img alt="India Oil Imports" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="40d5237f-e21c-4fa3-892f-ff132917e3af" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-20T123546.747.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;boy walks past an oil tanker train stationed at a railway station in Ghaziabad, Courtesy: Reuters) ]

The IEA forecast that producers outside the OPEC+ pact would grow supplies by 2.1 million BPD in 2020.

India is working on a strategy to diversify its oil supply sources to cut dependence on the Middle East, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said last week, adding that some refiners are in advance negotiations to boost Russian oil imports.

<img alt="Oil imports low" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a431b9c8-7ba0-45fd-902e-0f558d54f055" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-01-20T123522.599.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;India's oil imports from Middle East fall to four-year-low in 2019 (Courtesy: Reuters) ]

The drive to expand crude sources also reflects a push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bolster ties with countries like Russia and the United States.

India's overall <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/as-palm-row-simmers-india-says-no-meeting-with-malaysia-in-davos-275314">oil imports</a> in 2019 fell by about 2.1% to 4.48 million BPD, the data showed because most refiners temporarily shut processing units for upgrades ahead of new fuel standards in 2020. India is migrating to Euro VI-compliant fuel from April 1.

Imports from CIS nations rose in 2019 by about 65% to 171,000 BPD, the data showed. Intake of African grades rose by 7.3% to about 713,000 BPD, while US&nbsp;supplies surged by about 63% to 181,000 BPD.

US&nbsp;oil accounted for about 4% of India's overall imports in 2019, up from just 2.5% a year earlier.

"The opening of an arbitrage window for US&nbsp;oil during the year changed oil flows. The differential was enough to take care of shipping," said Haq.

Demand for heavy Middle Eastern grades was also affected by a shift in bunker fuel specifications from January, following new industry rules promoting lower sulphur fuels.

"Most Middle Eastern grades yield high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) and because of new marine fuel norms, refiners are buying more from other producers to cut production of HSFO and increase the output of very low sulphur fuel oil," Haq added.

India, the world's third-biggest oil consumer, imports about 84% of its oil needs and traditionally relies on the Middle East for the majority of its supply. However, the region's share of India's crude shrank to 60% last year - down from 65% a year ago and the lowest since 2015 - as record output from the United States and countries like Russia offered opportunities for importers to tap other sources.

India, the world's third-biggest oil consumer, imports about 84% of its oil needs and traditionally relies on the Middle East for the majority of its supply. However, the region's share of India's crude shrank to 60% last year - down from 65% a year ago and the lowest since 2015 - as record output from the United States and countries like Russia offered opportunities for importers to tap other sources. India shipped in 2.68 million barrels per day (BPD) oil from the Middle East in 2019, down about 10% from 2018, and around 1.8 million BPD from elsewhere. Deeper than expected oil output cuts by OPEC and allies, shouldered by Saudi Arabia, and less supply from Iran due to US sanctions also dented India's intake of Middle Eastern oil, said Ehsan Ul Haq, analyst with Refinitiv. Also Read: India's November oil import growth fastest in seven months Last year, sanctions and output cuts by OPEC and allies, known as OPEC+, reduced the group's supplies by 1.9 million BPD from 2018, while non-OPEC supply rose by 2 million BPD, the International Energy Agency said in its latest report. [ boy walks past an oil tanker train stationed at a railway station in Ghaziabad, Courtesy: Reuters) ] The IEA forecast that producers outside the OPEC+ pact would grow supplies by 2.1 million BPD in 2020. India is working on a strategy to diversify its oil supply sources to cut dependence on the Middle East, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said last week, adding that some refiners are in advance negotiations to boost Russian oil imports. [ India's oil imports from Middle East fall to four-year-low in 2019 (Courtesy: Reuters) ] The drive to expand crude sources also reflects a push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bolster ties with countries like Russia and the United States. India's overall oil imports in 2019 fell by about 2.1% to 4.48 million BPD, the data showed because most refiners temporarily shut processing units for upgrades ahead of new fuel standards in 2020. India is migrating to Euro VI-compliant fuel from April 1. Imports from CIS nations rose in 2019 by about 65% to 171,000 BPD, the data showed. Intake of African grades rose by 7.3% to about 713,000 BPD, while US supplies surged by about 63% to 181,000 BPD. US oil accounted for about 4% of India's overall imports in 2019, up from just 2.5% a year earlier. "The opening of an arbitrage window for US oil during the year changed oil flows. The differential was enough to take care of shipping," said Haq. Demand for heavy Middle Eastern grades was also affected by a shift in bunker fuel specifications from January, following new industry rules promoting lower sulphur fuels. "Most Middle Eastern grades yield high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) and because of new marine fuel norms, refiners are buying more from other producers to cut production of HSFO and increase the output of very low sulphur fuel oil," Haq added.

Slippery Slope: India's Imports from Middle East at four year low

The World is One News, WION examines global issues with in-depth analysis. We provide much more than the news of the day. Our aim is to empower people to explore their world.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 17, 2020

Iranians buried their dead from an airliner shot down by the military as authorities on Wednesday identified more of the 176 victims of last week's crash, which led to days of rage against Iran's rulers followed by a police crackdown.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-and-president-rouhani-did-not-know-the-reason-behind-boeing-crash-till-friday-iran-foreign-minister-zarif-at-raisina-dialogue-274417">Also read: I and President Rouhani did not know the reason behind Boeing crash till Friday — Iran foreign minister Zarif</a> 
 
Emotions have been running high as the victims of the January&nbsp;8 crash are mourned. The national flag was ripped from the coffin of one victim when relatives collected the body and the mother shouted "Tear it off," an online video post showed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-iran-missiles-battered-iraq-base-us-lost-eyes-in-sky-274302">Also Read:&nbsp;As Iran missiles battered Iraq base, US lost eyes in sky</a>

<img alt="Iran plane crash" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="68375558-7cf9-4963-85cf-8cccd5b67933" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_43.jpg" />

Protesters took to the streets of Iranian cities for four days after the armed forces finally acknowledged on Saturday, after days of denials, that they had brought down the plane. In several places, demonstrators met a fierce police response.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-plane-crash-video-shows-missiles-launched-from-an-iranian-military-site-hit-the-plane-274358">Watch:&nbsp;Video shows missiles launched from an Iranian military site hit the plane&nbsp;</a>

Iranians on social media called for more protests on Wednesday, but there was no sign of the kind of rallies of previous days. Instead, videos showed riot police massed outside universities, the focal point for demonstrations.

<img alt="Iran plane crash" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e2213366-1aca-4c76-94df-40e4ccc06b3c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_32.jpg" />

In earlier protests, footage showed police beating protesters, sounds of gunshots, teargas and blood on the ground.

The full scale of the unrest and the crackdown is difficult to determine because of restrictions on independent reporting.

Police denied opening fire and said officers were told to act with restraint. Just two months ago, a crackdown on protests caused by fuel price hikes killed hundreds of people.

"The government sees itself under siege from all sides right now and is not going to allow any protest to snowball into a nationwide movement," said Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group.

Iran is battling on several fronts. A new international crisis has erupted over its nuclear programme, the economy is in tatters under U.S. sanctions and a long-running standoff with the United States briefly spiralled into open conflict.

The plane was downed by air defences when the armed forces were on high alert for US&nbsp;reprisals, hours after Iran launched missiles against US&nbsp;targets in Iraq in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian commander on January 3.

Crash investigators from Canada have visited the site of the crash and will examine the wreckage later on Wednesday, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said.

Ukraine is trying to establish whether Iran will hand over the black boxes containing flight data from the plane, a senior Ukrainian prosecutor was quoted by Interfax Ukraine as saying on Wednesday.

Universities across Canada held a moment of silence on Wednesday for victims, many of whom were academics, researchers and students linked to 19 Canadian universities.

'UNFORGIVABLE ERROR'

Most of those on Ukraine International Airlines flight 752, bound for Kiev, were Iranians or dual citizens, many of them students returning to their studies abroad or families on their way home after seeing relatives in Iran.

The head of the coroner's office in Tehran said 123 of the 176 victims had been identified, ILNA news agency reported.

Several victims were buried in the sprawling Behesht-e Zahra cemetery south of Tehran, while others would be transferred abroad, Iranian media said.

On Thursday, Canada, Ukraine, Britain and other nations who had citizens on the downed plane were to meet in London to discuss legal action against Iran, Ukraine and Canada have said.

The military and top officials apologised for the "unforgivable error" in bringing the plane down and said it would prosecute those to blame. The judiciary said people had been arrested who were accused of having a role in the disaster.

The government has also sought to galvanise loyalists at home. A state-sponsored body has called for rallies on Friday to show support for the leadership and to commemorate "martyrs" of the plane disaster, Iranian media reported.

Iran also has been fending off international pressure over its nuclear ambitions. On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed the idea of a new agreement to resolve the nuclear row, as proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and described by Britain's prime minister as a "Trump deal."

Rouhani said Trump, who quit an existing nuclear pact in 2018, always broke his promises.

Tehran has repeatedly said it would not hold talks while under US sanctions, reimposed as part of Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran aimed at pushing Tehran into a new deal that would put stricter limits on its nuclear work, curb its missile programme and end its role in regional conflicts.

The commander killed in January 3 drone strike, Qassem Soleimani, was responsible for building up Iran's proxy militias abroad that created an arch of influence across the Middle East.

Iranians buried their dead from an airliner shot down by the military as authorities on Wednesday identified more of the 176 victims of last week's crash, which led to days of rage against Iran's rulers followed by a police crackdown.

Iranians buried their dead from an airliner shot down by the military as authorities on Wednesday identified more of the 176 victims of last week's crash, which led to days of rage against Iran's rulers followed by a police crackdown. Also read: I and President Rouhani did not know the reason behind Boeing crash till Friday — Iran foreign minister Zarif Emotions have been running high as the victims of the January 8 crash are mourned. The national flag was ripped from the coffin of one victim when relatives collected the body and the mother shouted "Tear it off," an online video post showed. Also Read: As Iran missiles battered Iraq base, US lost eyes in sky Protesters took to the streets of Iranian cities for four days after the armed forces finally acknowledged on Saturday, after days of denials, that they had brought down the plane. In several places, demonstrators met a fierce police response. Watch: Video shows missiles launched from an Iranian military site hit the plane Iranians on social media called for more protests on Wednesday, but there was no sign of the kind of rallies of previous days. Instead, videos showed riot police massed outside universities, the focal point for demonstrations. In earlier protests, footage showed police beating protesters, sounds of gunshots, teargas and blood on the ground. The full scale of the unrest and the crackdown is difficult to determine because of restrictions on independent reporting. Police denied opening fire and said officers were told to act with restraint. Just two months ago, a crackdown on protests caused by fuel price hikes killed hundreds of people. "The government sees itself under siege from all sides right now and is not going to allow any protest to snowball into a nationwide movement," said Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group. Iran is battling on several fronts. A new international crisis has erupted over its nuclear programme, the economy is in tatters under U.S. sanctions and a long-running standoff with the United States briefly spiralled into open conflict. The plane was downed by air defences when the armed forces were on high alert for US reprisals, hours after Iran launched missiles against US targets in Iraq in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike that killed a top Iranian commander on January 3. Crash investigators from Canada have visited the site of the crash and will examine the wreckage later on Wednesday, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said. Ukraine is trying to establish whether Iran will hand over the black boxes containing flight data from the plane, a senior Ukrainian prosecutor was quoted by Interfax Ukraine as saying on Wednesday. Universities across Canada held a moment of silence on Wednesday for victims, many of whom were academics, researchers and students linked to 19 Canadian universities. 'UNFORGIVABLE ERROR' Most of those on Ukraine International Airlines flight 752, bound for Kiev, were Iranians or dual citizens, many of them students returning to their studies abroad or families on their way home after seeing relatives in Iran. The head of the coroner's office in Tehran said 123 of the 176 victims had been identified, ILNA news agency reported. Several victims were buried in the sprawling Behesht-e Zahra cemetery south of Tehran, while others would be transferred abroad, Iranian media said. On Thursday, Canada, Ukraine, Britain and other nations who had citizens on the downed plane were to meet in London to discuss legal action against Iran, Ukraine and Canada have said. The military and top officials apologised for the "unforgivable error" in bringing the plane down and said it would prosecute those to blame. The judiciary said people had been arrested who were accused of having a role in the disaster. The government has also sought to galvanise loyalists at home. A state-sponsored body has called for rallies on Friday to show support for the leadership and to commemorate "martyrs" of the plane disaster, Iranian media reported. Iran also has been fending off international pressure over its nuclear ambitions. On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed the idea of a new agreement to resolve the nuclear row, as proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and described by Britain's prime minister as a "Trump deal." Rouhani said Trump, who quit an existing nuclear pact in 2018, always broke his promises. Tehran has repeatedly said it would not hold talks while under US sanctions, reimposed as part of Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran aimed at pushing Tehran into a new deal that would put stricter limits on its nuclear work, curb its missile programme and end its role in regional conflicts. The commander killed in January 3 drone strike, Qassem Soleimani, was responsible for building up Iran's proxy militias abroad that created an arch of influence across the Middle East.

Iranians bury dead from downed plane after days of rage on the street

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 16, 2020

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 15, 2020

Two missiles launched from an Iranian military site hit Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on January 8, the New York Times report said on Tuesday. The Times reportedly verified security camera footage and stated that two missiles, fired 30 seconds apart, from an Iranian military site around eight miles from the plane.

Two missiles launched from an Iranian military site hit Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on January 8, the New York Times report said on Tuesday. The Times reportedly verified security camera footage and stated that two missiles, fired 30 seconds apart, from an Iranian military site around eight miles from the plane. The new video shows the airliner on fire, circling back toward Tehran’s international airport. Minutes later it exploded and crashed down, narrowly missing the village of Khalaj Abad, the report added. × US intelligence officials said on January 9 that the heat signatures of two surface-to-air missiles were detected near the aircraft. The Times report confirmed that the new video was filmed by a camera on the roof of a building near the village of Bidkaneh, four miles from an Iranian military site. Meanwhile, Iran President Hassan Rouhani promised a thorough investigation into the "unforgivable error" in an address on Tuesday. It was the latest in a series of apologies by the leadership that has done little to quell public anger.

Iran plane crash: Video shows missiles launched from an Iranian military site hit the plane 

The World is One News, WION examines global issues with in-depth analysis. We provide much more than the news of the day. Our aim is to empower people to explore their world. #WION #WIONspeednews #Australia #China #Iran #US

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 14, 2020

By Jeremy Wildeman

Canada is caught in a mess of its own diplomatic making following the recent escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran. This escalation seemed to contribute to the downing by Iran on its own soil of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, with 57 Canadians aboard.

This is not just a matter of Canada being caught in an international conflagration involving the Trump administration after its targeted killing of Iranian Major-General&nbsp;Qasem Soleimani.

It is also the result of an unnecessarily aggressive posture of Canada’s own when, in 2012, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government closed its embassy in Tehran and expelled Iranian officials on short notice from Canada.

The context of war and Flight PS752 
​​​​​​​ 
Flight PS752, with its stop in Kyiv, was popular with Iranians flying to Canada because there are no direct links between the two countries. It is also a cheap alternative route in Iran, which is impoverished by sanctions, conflict and corruption.

For months, the US&nbsp;and Iran had been antagonising&nbsp;one another across the Middle East. These regional rivals have been particularly aggressive since the US&nbsp;withdrew in 2018 from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) treaty, brokered by Barack Obama’s administration, and imposed new sanctions on Iran.

The JCPOA had been designed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran had been upholding its part in the agreement.

This tension escalated to dramatic new heights when the US carried out the unprecedented act of openly assassinating another country’s top official. A fate typically reserved for non-state players in the post 9/11 era, it was carried out at Baghdad’s international airport. Ten people died in the drone attack, including Iraqi factional commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. This has effectively demolished existing international norms for conduct.

Hillary Mann Leverett, a former White House National Security official, told Al Jazeera the killing of Soleimani amounted to a “declaration of war.”

Iran retaliated

The killing led directly to Iran saying it would no longer honour the JCPOA and launching missile attacks on American military bases in Iraq three days later, with no casualties. It may not be surprising in such a tense environment if the Iranian military fired missiles at an airliner taking off from its own airport, fearing an imminent US strike. Iran, however, should likely have grounded all flights that day, too.

Iran first denied it had shot down the plane, but after Iranian social media users ran rampant with speculation that Iranian missiles were responsible, the government admitted to its actions. Protesters have since taken to the streets against the regime.

Canada’s 2012 decision to cut diplomatic ties with Iran has played a role affecting the tragic loss of Canadian citizens.

It was a decision based heavily on internal political calculations. It has been at great cost to Canada’s ability to have a presence and institutional contacts in Iran to understand the politics and society there — and provide services to Canadians.

This lack of basic intelligence on the ground has hobbled Canada at the worst possible time. Because of these poor relations, Canada also has only limited access to participate in the investigation of the downed flight.

Justin Trudeau primarily blamed Iran

Canada justified cutting ties in 2012 by saying Iran was the world’s “most significant threat to global peace and security.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seemed to toe that line in his January 11 news conference, laying blame primarily on Iran.

Trudeau has largely been an adherent of his predecessor’s Middle East policy. However, diplomatic representation would significantly help in the aftermath of the downing of Flight PS752. What is more, countless Iranians are looking abroad for support for their own cause of reform and liberalization, and instead have been subjected to sanctions that harm innocent citizens most.

Diplomatic ties offer opportunities for dialogue essential to avoid conflict and resolve disputes. Further, Canadians live, travel and do business around the world, and a large community of Canadians of Iranian descent need access to Canadian diplomatic representation for their own safety and well-being.

That is why Canada has representation with other states around the world, even some of the most notorious. Indeed, one of Trudeau’s campaign promises in 2015 was to restore diplomatic relations with Iran.

Though the Harper government added legislation that made it difficult to reverse the 2012 decision, it can be done with political will.

Canadians need an embassy in Iran

No one yet knows what the fallout will be from the escalation between the US and Iran. The Middle East is now even more unsafe and unstable. Iran will feel compelled to respond after so egregious an attack on its officials, to save face and show attacks on its leadership come with a cost.

Meanwhile, Iraq is in greater upheaval. And no one can determine yet what the global impact will be after the US so dramatically smashed existing norms of statecraft.

More than ever, Canada needs a presence to be able to deal on its own with the aftermath of these terrible events, with Canadian interests front and centre. As the tragedy of Flight PS752 has made explicit, Canada only hurts itself and Canadians without it. 
 
(Jeremy Wildeman is Visiting Research Fellow, University of Bath) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/canadas-non-diplomacy-puts-canadians-at-risk-in-an-unstable-middle-east-129758">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

By Jeremy Wildeman Canada is caught in a mess of its own diplomatic making following the recent escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran. This escalation seemed to contribute to the downing by Iran on its own soil of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, with 57 Canadians aboard.

By Jeremy Wildeman Canada is caught in a mess of its own diplomatic making following the recent escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran. This escalation seemed to contribute to the downing by Iran on its own soil of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, with 57 Canadians aboard. This is not just a matter of Canada being caught in an international conflagration involving the Trump administration after its targeted killing of Iranian Major-General Qasem Soleimani. It is also the result of an unnecessarily aggressive posture of Canada’s own when, in 2012, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government closed its embassy in Tehran and expelled Iranian officials on short notice from Canada. The context of war and Flight PS752 Flight PS752, with its stop in Kyiv, was popular with Iranians flying to Canada because there are no direct links between the two countries. It is also a cheap alternative route in Iran, which is impoverished by sanctions, conflict and corruption. For months, the US and Iran had been antagonising one another across the Middle East. These regional rivals have been particularly aggressive since the US withdrew in 2018 from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) treaty, brokered by Barack Obama’s administration, and imposed new sanctions on Iran. The JCPOA had been designed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran had been upholding its part in the agreement. This tension escalated to dramatic new heights when the US carried out the unprecedented act of openly assassinating another country’s top official. A fate typically reserved for non-state players in the post 9/11 era, it was carried out at Baghdad’s international airport. Ten people died in the drone attack, including Iraqi factional commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. This has effectively demolished existing international norms for conduct. Hillary Mann Leverett, a former White House National Security official, told Al Jazeera the killing of Soleimani amounted to a “declaration of war.” Iran retaliated The killing led directly to Iran saying it would no longer honour the JCPOA and launching missile attacks on American military bases in Iraq three days later, with no casualties. It may not be surprising in such a tense environment if the Iranian military fired missiles at an airliner taking off from its own airport, fearing an imminent US strike. Iran, however, should likely have grounded all flights that day, too. Iran first denied it had shot down the plane, but after Iranian social media users ran rampant with speculation that Iranian missiles were responsible, the government admitted to its actions. Protesters have since taken to the streets against the regime. Canada’s 2012 decision to cut diplomatic ties with Iran has played a role affecting the tragic loss of Canadian citizens. It was a decision based heavily on internal political calculations. It has been at great cost to Canada’s ability to have a presence and institutional contacts in Iran to understand the politics and society there — and provide services to Canadians. This lack of basic intelligence on the ground has hobbled Canada at the worst possible time. Because of these poor relations, Canada also has only limited access to participate in the investigation of the downed flight. Justin Trudeau primarily blamed Iran Canada justified cutting ties in 2012 by saying Iran was the world’s “most significant threat to global peace and security.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seemed to toe that line in his January 11 news conference, laying blame primarily on Iran. Trudeau has largely been an adherent of his predecessor’s Middle East policy. However, diplomatic representation would significantly help in the aftermath of the downing of Flight PS752. What is more, countless Iranians are looking abroad for support for their own cause of reform and liberalization, and instead have been subjected to sanctions that harm innocent citizens most. Diplomatic ties offer opportunities for dialogue essential to avoid conflict and resolve disputes. Further, Canadians live, travel and do business around the world, and a large community of Canadians of Iranian descent need access to Canadian diplomatic representation for their own safety and well-being. That is why Canada has representation with other states around the world, even some of the most notorious. Indeed, one of Trudeau’s campaign promises in 2015 was to restore diplomatic relations with Iran. Though the Harper government added legislation that made it difficult to reverse the 2012 decision, it can be done with political will. Canadians need an embassy in Iran No one yet knows what the fallout will be from the escalation between the US and Iran. The Middle East is now even more unsafe and unstable. Iran will feel compelled to respond after so egregious an attack on its officials, to save face and show attacks on its leadership come with a cost. Meanwhile, Iraq is in greater upheaval. And no one can determine yet what the global impact will be after the US so dramatically smashed existing norms of statecraft. More than ever, Canada needs a presence to be able to deal on its own with the aftermath of these terrible events, with Canadian interests front and centre. As the tragedy of Flight PS752 has made explicit, Canada only hurts itself and Canadians without it. (Jeremy Wildeman is Visiting Research Fellow, University of Bath) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Canada’s non-diplomacy puts Canadians at risk in unstable Middle East

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WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - January 13, 2020

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-approves-funding-of-774-million-for-northeastern-gas-pipeline-272999">Dharmendra Pradhan</a> on Saturday said that there was no dearth of crude oil in the global market and the government was keeping a sharp eye on the global developments.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Pradhan said, "Due to geopolitical situation, conflict in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-tensions-washington-turns-down-iraqi-request-to-remove-troops-273509">Middle East</a> there was a spike in the price of crude oil. It is subdued in the last two weeks. Let us wait and watch, let's not create panic. Things are under control. Government of India (GoI) has kept a sharp eye on global development."

He also appealed to oil-producing countries and their leadership for peace and stability in the global economy.

"There is no dearth of crude oil in the global market. We are taking it from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/oil-edges-above-65-as-middle-east-concerns-support-273441">OPEC</a>, OPEC+, non-OPEC countries. The issue is&nbsp;price. We are appealing to oil-producing countries and responsible leaderships that there should be peace and stability in the global economy", he added.

Earlier in the day, Pradhan had launched PURVODAYA: Accelerated development of eastern India through an integrated steel hub in Kolkata.

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said that there was no dearth of crude oil in the global market and the government was keeping a sharp eye on the global developments.

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said that there was no dearth of crude oil in the global market and the government was keeping a sharp eye on the global developments. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Pradhan said, "Due to geopolitical situation, conflict in the Middle East there was a spike in the price of crude oil. It is subdued in the last two weeks. Let us wait and watch, let's not create panic. Things are under control. Government of India (GoI) has kept a sharp eye on global development." He also appealed to oil-producing countries and their leadership for peace and stability in the global economy. "There is no dearth of crude oil in the global market. We are taking it from OPEC, OPEC+, non-OPEC countries. The issue is price. We are appealing to oil-producing countries and responsible leaderships that there should be peace and stability in the global economy", he added. Earlier in the day, Pradhan had launched PURVODAYA: Accelerated development of eastern India through an integrated steel hub in Kolkata.

No dearth of crude oil in global market: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Pakistan Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-foreign-minister-shah-mahmood-qureshi-calls-for-maximum-restraint-amid-west-asia-tensions-272497">Shah Mehmood Qureshi</a> will embark on a visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia on January 13 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East region.

"He (Qureshi) will visit Riyadh on January 13 to hold talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-appeals-for-calm-after-killing-of-iranian-general-qasem-soleimani-272563">Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud</a> and consult on the issues of regional peace and stability," a Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson was quoted by The Express Tribune, as saying on Saturday.

The spokesperson said that Qureshi will meet his Iranian counterpart <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">Javad Zarif</a> in Tehran and exchange views on the evolving situation in the Middle East region.

Qureshi has already spoken to his counterparts from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, will undertake the visits on the direction of Pakistan Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-slammed-by-syed-akbaruddin-for-sharing-a-seven-years-old-fake-video-272024">Imran Khan</a>.

This visit comes in the backdrop of escalating US-Iran tensions after Soleimani, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, was killed in a drone strike ordered by President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/soleimani-was-probably-planning-to-attack-four-us-embassies-donald-trump-273535">Donald Trump</a> at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.

Iran retailated by firing dozens of missiles at two US-led coalition bases in Iraq. However, no casualties were reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/qasem-soleimani-and-irans-plan-to-dominate-iraq-273471">Soleimani</a>'s death marked a dramatic escalation in tension between the US and Iran, which has often been at a fever pitch since US President Donald Trump, in 2018, chose to unilaterally withdraw Washington from the 2015 nuclear pact the world powers had struck with Tehran.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will embark on a visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia on January 13 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East region.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will embark on a visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia on January 13 to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East region. "He (Qureshi) will visit Riyadh on January 13 to hold talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and consult on the issues of regional peace and stability," a Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson was quoted by The Express Tribune, as saying on Saturday. The spokesperson said that Qureshi will meet his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Tehran and exchange views on the evolving situation in the Middle East region. Qureshi has already spoken to his counterparts from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, will undertake the visits on the direction of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. This visit comes in the backdrop of escalating US-Iran tensions after Soleimani, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, was killed in a drone strike ordered by President Donald Trump at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. Iran retailated by firing dozens of missiles at two US-led coalition bases in Iraq. However, no casualties were reported. Soleimani's death marked a dramatic escalation in tension between the US and Iran, which has often been at a fever pitch since US President Donald Trump, in 2018, chose to unilaterally withdraw Washington from the 2015 nuclear pact the world powers had struck with Tehran.

Pakistan foreign minister to visit Iran, Saudi Arabia to discuss developments in Middle East

Washington&nbsp;on Friday spurned an&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;request to prepare to pull out its&nbsp;troops, amid heightened US-Iranian tensions after the US&nbsp;killing of an Iranian commander in Baghdad and said it was exploring a possible expansion of NATO's presence there.

Seeking to tighten pressure on its foe, the United States meanwhile imposed more sanctions on Iran, responding to an attack on US&nbsp;troops&nbsp;in Iraq launched by Tehran in retaliation for the death of General <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-asks-us-to-send-delegation-and-set-up-mechanism-for-troop-pullout-273491">Qasem Soleimani</a>.

Iraq could bear the brunt of any further violence between its neighbour Iran and the United States, its leaders caught in a bind as&nbsp;Washington&nbsp;and Tehran are also the&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;government's main allies and vie for influence there.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-of-representatives-curbs-trumps-war-power-amid-iran-tensions-273283">Donald Trump</a> said Iran had probably planned to attack the US&nbsp;embassy in Baghdad and was aiming to strike four US&nbsp;embassies when Soleimani was killed in a US&nbsp;drone strike.

"We will tell you probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad," Trump said in a clip of an interview with Fox News. "I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies."

Iraqi&nbsp;Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/defense-chief-esper-denies-us-troop-pullout-from-iraq-after-leaked-letter-confusion-272596">Adel Abdul Mahdi</a> made his request for preparations for a US&nbsp;troop withdrawal in a phone&nbsp;call&nbsp;with US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday in line with a vote in Iraq's parliament last week, his office said.

Abdul Mahdi asked Pompeo to "send delegates to put in place the tools to carry out the parliament's decision," his office said in a statement, adding that the forces used in the killing had entered Iraq or used its airspace without permission.

The State Department said any US&nbsp;delegation would not discuss the withdrawal of US&nbsp;troops&nbsp;as their presence in Iraq was "appropriate."

"There does, however, need to be a conversation between the US&nbsp;and&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;governments not just regarding security, but about our financial, economic, and diplomatic partnership," spokeswoman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/placating-turkey-trump-admin-says-doesnt-recognise-armenian-genocide-268796">Morgan Ortagus</a> said in a statement.

Trump said in the Fox News interview that if Iraq wanted the United States to leave, he would tell them: "You have to pay us for the money we put in."

He said the United States has $35 billion of Iraq's money "sitting in an account."

"I think they'll agree to pay. Otherwise, we'll stay there," Trump said.

Pompeo told reporters a NATO delegation was in&nbsp;Washington&nbsp;on Friday to discuss the future of the Iraq mission and a plan to "get burden-sharing right in the region".

Separately, the State Department said Pompeo had discussed Iran with Canadian Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-under-pressure-at-home-over-plane-crash-warns-iran-world-is-watching-273502">Francois‑Philippe Champagne</a> as well as "the opportunity for an expanded NATO force in Iraq and appropriate burden-sharing".

The latest flare-up in the long covert war between Iran and the United States began with the US&nbsp;killing of Soleimani, Iran's top general, in a drone strike on January&nbsp;3. Iran responded on Wednesday by firing missiles at US&nbsp;forces in Iraq.

In the aftermath, both sides backed off from intensifying the conflict but the region remains tense.

Iraq's top Shiite Muslim cleric condemned the US-Iranian struggle happening on&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;soil, saying it risked plunging his country and the wider Middle East into deeper conflict.

Grand <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-killing-of-qasem-soleimani-will-lead-to-the-strengthening-of-iranian-hardliners-272109">Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani</a> said it was&nbsp;Iraqis who stood to suffer most from the US-Iranian conflict. In a message delivered through a representative at Friday prayers in the holy city of Kerbala, Sistani said no foreign powers should be allowed to decide Iraq's fate.

"The latest dangerous aggressive acts, which are repeated violations of&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;sovereignty, are a part of the deteriorating situation" in the region, Sistani said. "Iraq must govern itself and there must be no role for outsiders in its decision-making."

Iraq has suffered decades of war, sanctions and sectarian conflict, including the US-led invasion of 2003.

At Friday prayers in Tehran, mid-ranking Iranian cleric Mohammad Javad Haj Aliakbari said US&nbsp;interests across the world were now exposed to threats.

Since Soleimani's killing, Tehran has stepped up its&nbsp;calls for US&nbsp;forces to leave Iraq, which like Iran is a mainly Shiite Muslim nation. Iranian Supreme Leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-missile-attack-news-iran-appears-to-be-standing-down-says-trump-273124">Ali Khamenei</a> has said the retaliatory strikes were not enough and that ending the US&nbsp;military presence in the region was Tehran's main goal.

Critics have&nbsp;called Soleimani's killing a reckless action.

But Pompeo said on Friday&nbsp;Washington&nbsp;had specific information about an imminent Iranian threat including to US&nbsp;embassies, adding: "American lives were at risk."

As part of his most recent activities in Iraq, Soleimani had encouraged pro-Iranian&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;militias to quash months of protests by&nbsp;Iraqis opposed to the influence in their country of foreign powers such as Iran and the United States.

In&nbsp;Iraqi&nbsp;cities, demonstrators took to the streets again on Friday, determined to keep up the momentum of their protests despite attention turning to the threat of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/us-iran-can-india-play-peacemaker-273348">US-Iran conflict</a>.

Gunmen killed two local journalists covering protests in the southern city of Basra, security sources and state media said. Ahmed Abdulsamad, Basra correspondent of Dijla TV station owned by senior Sunni politician Mohammed al-Karbouli, as killed immediately while his camera operator succumbed to his wounds in hospital, a medical source told reporters.

"Politicians and clerics are either with Iran, the US&nbsp;or other countries. Our allegiance is to Iraq only, not to factions and politicians," said Essam Faraj, 54, a demonstrator in Baghdad.

Washington on Friday spurned an Iraqi request to prepare to pull out its troops, amid heightened US-Iranian tensions after the US killing of an Iranian commander in Baghdad and said it was exploring a possible expansion of NATO's presence there.

Washington on Friday spurned an Iraqi request to prepare to pull out its troops, amid heightened US-Iranian tensions after the US killing of an Iranian commander in Baghdad and said it was exploring a possible expansion of NATO's presence there. Seeking to tighten pressure on its foe, the United States meanwhile imposed more sanctions on Iran, responding to an attack on US troops in Iraq launched by Tehran in retaliation for the death of General Qasem Soleimani. Iraq could bear the brunt of any further violence between its neighbour Iran and the United States, its leaders caught in a bind as Washington and Tehran are also the Iraqi government's main allies and vie for influence there. President Donald Trump said Iran had probably planned to attack the US embassy in Baghdad and was aiming to strike four US embassies when Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike. "We will tell you probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad," Trump said in a clip of an interview with Fox News. "I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies." Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi made his request for preparations for a US troop withdrawal in a phone call with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday in line with a vote in Iraq's parliament last week, his office said. Abdul Mahdi asked Pompeo to "send delegates to put in place the tools to carry out the parliament's decision," his office said in a statement, adding that the forces used in the killing had entered Iraq or used its airspace without permission. The State Department said any US delegation would not discuss the withdrawal of US troops as their presence in Iraq was "appropriate." "There does, however, need to be a conversation between the US and Iraqi governments not just regarding security, but about our financial, economic, and diplomatic partnership," spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. Trump said in the Fox News interview that if Iraq wanted the United States to leave, he would tell them: "You have to pay us for the money we put in." He said the United States has $35 billion of Iraq's money "sitting in an account." "I think they'll agree to pay. Otherwise, we'll stay there," Trump said. Pompeo told reporters a NATO delegation was in Washington on Friday to discuss the future of the Iraq mission and a plan to "get burden-sharing right in the region". Separately, the State Department said Pompeo had discussed Iran with Canadian Foreign Minister Francois‑Philippe Champagne as well as "the opportunity for an expanded NATO force in Iraq and appropriate burden-sharing". The latest flare-up in the long covert war between Iran and the United States began with the US killing of Soleimani, Iran's top general, in a drone strike on January 3. Iran responded on Wednesday by firing missiles at US forces in Iraq. In the aftermath, both sides backed off from intensifying the conflict but the region remains tense. Iraq's top Shiite Muslim cleric condemned the US-Iranian struggle happening on Iraqi soil, saying it risked plunging his country and the wider Middle East into deeper conflict. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said it was Iraqis who stood to suffer most from the US-Iranian conflict. In a message delivered through a representative at Friday prayers in the holy city of Kerbala, Sistani said no foreign powers should be allowed to decide Iraq's fate. "The latest dangerous aggressive acts, which are repeated violations of Iraqi sovereignty, are a part of the deteriorating situation" in the region, Sistani said. "Iraq must govern itself and there must be no role for outsiders in its decision-making." Iraq has suffered decades of war, sanctions and sectarian conflict, including the US-led invasion of 2003. At Friday prayers in Tehran, mid-ranking Iranian cleric Mohammad Javad Haj Aliakbari said US interests across the world were now exposed to threats. Since Soleimani's killing, Tehran has stepped up its calls for US forces to leave Iraq, which like Iran is a mainly Shiite Muslim nation. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said the retaliatory strikes were not enough and that ending the US military presence in the region was Tehran's main goal. Critics have called Soleimani's killing a reckless action. But Pompeo said on Friday Washington had specific information about an imminent Iranian threat including to US embassies, adding: "American lives were at risk." As part of his most recent activities in Iraq, Soleimani had encouraged pro-Iranian Iraqi militias to quash months of protests by Iraqis opposed to the influence in their country of foreign powers such as Iran and the United States. In Iraqi cities, demonstrators took to the streets again on Friday, determined to keep up the momentum of their protests despite attention turning to the threat of a US-Iran conflict. Gunmen killed two local journalists covering protests in the southern city of Basra, security sources and state media said. Ahmed Abdulsamad, Basra correspondent of Dijla TV station owned by senior Sunni politician Mohammed al-Karbouli, as killed immediately while his camera operator succumbed to his wounds in hospital, a medical source told reporters. "Politicians and clerics are either with Iran, the US or other countries. Our allegiance is to Iraq only, not to factions and politicians," said Essam Faraj, 54, a demonstrator in Baghdad.

US-Iran tensions escalate as Washington refuses Tehran's request to remove troops

The EU's diplomatic chief warned Friday that it may not be possible to save the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-rejects-trump-call-to-ditch-iran-nuclear-pact-273497">Iran nuclear deal</a>, as the bloc's foreign ministers held emergency talks on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-concerned-over-recent-development-in-middle-east-after-soleimanis-killing-273398">Middle East</a>.

Europe has led efforts to save the 2015 accord, gravely undermined by Trump's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and Iran's subsequent winding down of its compliance, but to little effect.

After an afternoon of talks with ministers, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-invites-iranian-foreign-minister-zarif-to-brussels-amid-rising-middle-east-tension-272290">Josep Borrell</a>, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, reiterated Europe's continuing support for the deal but warned it may be doomed.

"We want to save this deal if it's possible," he said, warning that negotiating a new pact would be a "very complex, highly technical process" that would take a long time.

Friday's meeting did not discuss triggering the deal's dispute resolution mechanism, which could ultimately lead to the UN Security Council reimposing sanctions on Iran.

"Maybe we cannot avoid that the JCPOA finally is being cancelled because the dispute mechanism can be triggered and I cannot exclude that this happens," Borrell said, using an abbreviation for the deal's formal name.

The three European parties to the pact, Britain, France and Germany, have all stressed their commitment to saving it, in defiance of a call by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/soleimani-was-probably-planning-to-attack-four-us-embassies-donald-trump-273535">Trump</a> this week to join him in walking away.

France and Germany have warned for some time that unless Iran returns to full compliance with the terms of the deal, they may trigger the dispute mechanism.

But the Europeans are expected to wait for UN inspectors to report on what Iran is doing on the ground following its latest announcement.

Earlier Friday, French Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-prefer-to-download-black-boxes-iran-after-plane-crash-blamed-on-missile-273396">Jean-Yves Le Drian</a> warned that without action, Iran could soon be in a position to develop the bomb.

"If they continue to unravel the Vienna accord then yes in quite a short period, between one and two years, they could have a nuclear weapon, which is unimaginable," he told France's RTL radio.

Several other ministers at the talks restated the EU's continuing determination to preserve the deal, which they say is vital for non-proliferation and regional security.

But Lithuania's Linas Linkevicius said that without some substantial change, "it will be difficult to believe that this agreement could be alive".

Friday's highly unusual emergency meeting was called in response to soaring Middle East tensions following the killing of Iranian general <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-tensions-washington-turns-down-iraqi-request-to-remove-troops-273509">Qasem Soleimani</a> in an American drone strike.

Fears of all-out war have subsided since US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-has-given-important-data-on-iran-plane-crash-ukraine-foreign-minister-273408">Donald Trump</a> made a statement on Wednesday saying Tehran appeared to be "standing down" after firing missiles, without causing casualties at US troops based in Iraq.

But the fatal crash of a Ukrainian airliner near Tehran in the midst of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-gets-access-to-crashed-planes-black-boxes-foreign-minister-273477">crisis</a> was on ministers' minds, with several urging Tehran to carry out a transparent inquiry.

Reports from several Western capitals indicated that the crash of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukrainian-airplane-brought-down-due-to-human-error-iran-273506">Boeing 737</a>, which killed 176 people appeared to have been caused by an Iranian air defence missile.

"This is more than tragic&nbsp;the important thing now is that everything is completely investigated," said German Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-zelensky-meet-in-paris-for-summit-amid-push-to-end-ukraine-war-267304">Heiko Maas</a> as he arrived for the talks.

"Nothing must be swept under the table because if that were the case, it would be the breeding ground for new mistrust."

His Dutch counterpart Stef Blok echoed his call, saying it was "very likely" an Iranian missile brought the plane down.

NATO Secretary-General <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-fully-respect-iraqs-sovereignty-says-irans-un-ambassador-after-ballistic-missile-strike-273064">Jens Stoltenberg</a> added his voice to the calls for transparency and said he had "no reason to not believe" alliance members Britain and Canada when they blamed a missile for the crash.

Also Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-russia-leaders-set-to-meet-for-paris-talks-with-bleak-prospects-of-peace-266434">Vadym Prystaiko</a> told a Kiev briefing that a team of his country's experts had been given access to the plane's black box flight recorders and were receiving "full cooperation" from the Iranian authorities.

Also on the ministers' agenda was the crisis in Libya, where the UN-backed government is under threat from rival strongman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libya-haftar-forces-seize-large-parts-of-sirte-city-272759">Khalifa Haftar</a>.

European powers fear the ongoing chaos in Libya could lead to a fresh wave of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean or allow the Islamic State group to gain a foothold to launch attacks.

Borrell warned that the crisis could "spiral out of control" and called for a ceasefire.

An EU diplomat said the ministers gave unanimous backing to a planned international conference in Berlin, with Germany delegated to represent the bloc as a whole.

The EU's diplomatic chief warned Friday that it may not be possible to save the Iran nuclear deal, as the bloc's foreign ministers held emergency talks on the Middle East.

The EU's diplomatic chief warned Friday that it may not be possible to save the Iran nuclear deal, as the bloc's foreign ministers held emergency talks on the Middle East. Europe has led efforts to save the 2015 accord, gravely undermined by Trump's unilateral withdrawal in 2018 and Iran's subsequent winding down of its compliance, but to little effect. After an afternoon of talks with ministers, Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, reiterated Europe's continuing support for the deal but warned it may be doomed. "We want to save this deal if it's possible," he said, warning that negotiating a new pact would be a "very complex, highly technical process" that would take a long time. Friday's meeting did not discuss triggering the deal's dispute resolution mechanism, which could ultimately lead to the UN Security Council reimposing sanctions on Iran. "Maybe we cannot avoid that the JCPOA finally is being cancelled because the dispute mechanism can be triggered and I cannot exclude that this happens," Borrell said, using an abbreviation for the deal's formal name. The three European parties to the pact, Britain, France and Germany, have all stressed their commitment to saving it, in defiance of a call by Trump this week to join him in walking away. France and Germany have warned for some time that unless Iran returns to full compliance with the terms of the deal, they may trigger the dispute mechanism. But the Europeans are expected to wait for UN inspectors to report on what Iran is doing on the ground following its latest announcement. Earlier Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned that without action, Iran could soon be in a position to develop the bomb. "If they continue to unravel the Vienna accord then yes in quite a short period, between one and two years, they could have a nuclear weapon, which is unimaginable," he told France's RTL radio. Several other ministers at the talks restated the EU's continuing determination to preserve the deal, which they say is vital for non-proliferation and regional security. But Lithuania's Linas Linkevicius said that without some substantial change, "it will be difficult to believe that this agreement could be alive". Friday's highly unusual emergency meeting was called in response to soaring Middle East tensions following the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in an American drone strike. Fears of all-out war have subsided since US President Donald Trump made a statement on Wednesday saying Tehran appeared to be "standing down" after firing missiles, without causing casualties at US troops based in Iraq. But the fatal crash of a Ukrainian airliner near Tehran in the midst of the crisis was on ministers' minds, with several urging Tehran to carry out a transparent inquiry. Reports from several Western capitals indicated that the crash of the Boeing 737, which killed 176 people appeared to have been caused by an Iranian air defence missile. "This is more than tragic the important thing now is that everything is completely investigated," said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas as he arrived for the talks. "Nothing must be swept under the table because if that were the case, it would be the breeding ground for new mistrust." His Dutch counterpart Stef Blok echoed his call, saying it was "very likely" an Iranian missile brought the plane down. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg added his voice to the calls for transparency and said he had "no reason to not believe" alliance members Britain and Canada when they blamed a missile for the crash. Also Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko told a Kiev briefing that a team of his country's experts had been given access to the plane's black box flight recorders and were receiving "full cooperation" from the Iranian authorities. Also on the ministers' agenda was the crisis in Libya, where the UN-backed government is under threat from rival strongman Khalifa Haftar. European powers fear the ongoing chaos in Libya could lead to a fresh wave of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean or allow the Islamic State group to gain a foothold to launch attacks. Borrell warned that the crisis could "spiral out of control" and called for a ceasefire. An EU diplomat said the ministers gave unanimous backing to a planned international conference in Berlin, with Germany delegated to represent the bloc as a whole.

European Union warns Iran nuclear deal may collapse

Nepal on Thursday expressed concern over recent development in the middle eastern region which hosts about a million of its citizens. 
 
Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has released a statement expressing concern over the recent development in West Asia after Iranian General <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-missile-attack-news-solemanis-killing-was-american-justice-says-trump-at-campaign-rally-in-ohio-273302">Qasem Soleimani</a> was killed in a US drone strike near <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-boris-johnson-calls-for-end-to-hostilities-with-us-in-call-to-irans-rouhani-273248">Baghdad International Airport</a>. 
 
Killing of the Iranian General on Friday in the drone strike last week in Iraq escalated tensions between Iran and the United States. 
 
Iran had launched strikes against Iraqi bases where US troops are stationed on Wednesday. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ejaz-lakdawala-a-former-member-of-dawood-ibrahims-gang-arrested-in-patna-by-mumbai-police-273266">Kathmandu</a> has asked parties in the region to exercise restraints from taking measures and actions that contribute to the further escalation of tensions. 
 
"The Government of Nepal is following with serious concern the recent developments in the West Asian region. The region hosts a large number of Nepali migrant workers and therefore security and safety of our people in the region become a matter of utmost priority for Nepal," the release from Foreign Ministry states. 
 
"We call upon all sides to exercise restraints from taking measures and actions that contribute to the escalation of tension and endanger peace and stability in the region. It has been a principled position of Nepal that all disputes and differences must be resolved through peaceful means," the release further adds. 
 
The MoFA on Thursday also held a separate meeting with stakeholders and officials from various concerning ministry and discussed measures to be adopted if the condition worsens. It has decided to form an Inbound Coordination Committee to watch on the condition there and take actions as needed for the security of the Nepali migrant workers.

Nepal on Thursday expressed concern over recent development in the middle eastern region which hosts about a million of its citizens. Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has released a statement expressing concern over the recent development in West Asia after Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport.

Nepal on Thursday expressed concern over recent development in the middle eastern region which hosts about a million of its citizens. Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has released a statement expressing concern over the recent development in West Asia after Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International Airport. Killing of the Iranian General on Friday in the drone strike last week in Iraq escalated tensions between Iran and the United States. Iran had launched strikes against Iraqi bases where US troops are stationed on Wednesday. Kathmandu has asked parties in the region to exercise restraints from taking measures and actions that contribute to the further escalation of tensions. "The Government of Nepal is following with serious concern the recent developments in the West Asian region. The region hosts a large number of Nepali migrant workers and therefore security and safety of our people in the region become a matter of utmost priority for Nepal," the release from Foreign Ministry states. "We call upon all sides to exercise restraints from taking measures and actions that contribute to the escalation of tension and endanger peace and stability in the region. It has been a principled position of Nepal that all disputes and differences must be resolved through peaceful means," the release further adds. The MoFA on Thursday also held a separate meeting with stakeholders and officials from various concerning ministry and discussed measures to be adopted if the condition worsens. It has decided to form an Inbound Coordination Committee to watch on the condition there and take actions as needed for the security of the Nepali migrant workers.

Nepal concerned over recent development in Middle East after Soleimani's killing

At least 50 people were killed in a stampede as tens of thousands of mourners packed streets for the funeral of a slain Iranian military commander in his hometown on Tuesday, forcing his burial to be delayed by several hours, state media said.

General Qasem Soleimani's burial began in the late afternoon in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman, four days after his killing in a US&nbsp;drone strike in Iraq that plunged the region into a new crisis and raised fears of a broader conflict.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-never-have-a-nuclear-weapon-says-trump-as-tehran-mourns-suleimani-272585">Also Read:&nbsp;Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, says Trump as Tehran mourns Suleimani</a>

"A few minutes ago his body was transferred to the martyrs' section of Kerman cemetery," the semi-official news agency ISNA reported, adding that Soleimani's internment had begun.

Watch:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-iran-designates-pentagon-as-terrorist-272776/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering several scenarios to avenge his killing. Other senior figures have said Iran will match the scale of Soleimani's killing when it responds, but that it will choose the time and place.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/crazy-trump-dont-think-that-everything-is-over-with-my-fathers-martyrdom-zeinab-soleimani-daughter-of-qassem-soleimani-272535">In Pics: Crazy Trump, don't think that everything is over, says Zeinab, daughter of Qasem Soleimani</a>

Tuesday's stampede broke out amid the crush of mourners, killing 50 people, Iran's ISNA news agency said, quoting the chief coroner for Kerman province, Abbas Amian. About 213 people were injured, an emergency services official told the semi-official Fars news agency.

"Today because of the heavy congestion of the crowd, unfortunately, a number of our fellow citizens who were mourning were injured and a number were killed," emergency medical services chief Pir Hossein Kolivand told state television.

Watch:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-soleimani-killed-thousands-mourn-the-generals-death-in-tehran-272594/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The body of Soleimani, a national hero to many Iranians but viewed as a dangerous villain by Western governments opposed to the Islamic Republic, had been taken to Iraqi and Iranian cities before arriving in Kerman for burial.

In each place, huge numbers of people filled thoroughfares, chanting "Death to America" and weeping with emotion. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shed tears when leading prayers in Tehran.

Soleimani, who commanded the elite Quds Force, was responsible for building up Tehran's network of proxy armies across the Middle East. He was a key figure in orchestrating Iran's long-standing campaign to drive US forces out of Iraq.

Iran's opponents say its proxies have fuelled conflicts, killing and displacing people in Iraq, Syria and beyond. Tehran says any operations abroad are at the request of governments and that it offers "advisory support".

The US defence secretary denied reports the U.S. military was preparing to withdraw from Iraq, where Tehran has vied with Washington for influence since the 2003 US invasion.

Revenge

"We will take revenge, hard and definitive revenge," the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Hossein Salami, told the crowds in Kerman before the stampede.

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said 13 "revenge scenarios" were being considered, Fars news agency reported. Even the weakest option would prove "a historic nightmare for the Americans," he said.

Iran, whose coastline runs along a Gulf oil shipping route that includes the narrow Strait of Hormuz, has allied forces across the Middle East through which it can act. Representatives from those groups, including the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, attended funeral events in Tehran.

Despite its strident rhetoric, analysts say Iran will want to avoid any conventional conflict with the United States and is likely to focus on asymmetric strikes, such as sabotage or other military action via proxies.

Trump has promised to target 52 Iranian sites if Iran retaliates.

Reuters and other media reported on Monday that the US military had sent a letter to Iraqi officials informing them US troops were preparing to leave. But US Defense Secretary Mark Esper denied there had been any decision to pull out.

About 5,000 US troops are still in Iraq, where there has been a US military presence since Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003.

Friction

Iraq's parliament, dominated by lawmakers representing Muslim Shi'ite groups who have been united by the killing of Soleimani alongside an Iraqi militia leader, passed a resolution on Sunday calling for all foreign troops to leave.

Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Abdel Abdul Mahdi told the US ambassador to Baghdad the resolution must be implemented.

Friction between Iran and the United States has risen since Washington withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

The United States has imposed new economic sanctions on Iran, slashing Iranian oil exports, and Tehran said on Sunday it was dropping limitations on uranium enrichment, in its latest step back from commitments to the deal.

Washington denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to allow him to attend a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday, a US official said.

Trump's US political rivals have challenged his decision to order the killing of Soleimani and questioned its timing in a US election year. His administration said Soleimani was planning new attacks on US interests without giving evidence.

US general Milley said the threat from Soleimani was imminent. "We would have been culpably negligent to the American people had we not made the decision we made," he said.

Trump administration officials will provide a classified briefing for US senators on Wednesday on events in Iraq after some lawmakers accused the White House of risking a broad conflict without a strategy.

At least 50 people were killed in a stampede as tens of thousands of mourners packed streets for the funeral of a slain Iranian military commander in his hometown on Tuesday, forcing his burial to be delayed by several hours, state media said.

At least 50 people were killed in a stampede as tens of thousands of mourners packed streets for the funeral of a slain Iranian military commander in his hometown on Tuesday, forcing his burial to be delayed by several hours, state media said. General Qasem Soleimani's burial began in the late afternoon in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman, four days after his killing in a US drone strike in Iraq that plunged the region into a new crisis and raised fears of a broader conflict. Also Read: Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, says Trump as Tehran mourns Suleimani "A few minutes ago his body was transferred to the martyrs' section of Kerman cemetery," the semi-official news agency ISNA reported, adding that Soleimani's internment had begun. Watch: A senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering several scenarios to avenge his killing. Other senior figures have said Iran will match the scale of Soleimani's killing when it responds, but that it will choose the time and place. In Pics: Crazy Trump, don't think that everything is over, says Zeinab, daughter of Qasem Soleimani Tuesday's stampede broke out amid the crush of mourners, killing 50 people, Iran's ISNA news agency said, quoting the chief coroner for Kerman province, Abbas Amian. About 213 people were injured, an emergency services official told the semi-official Fars news agency. "Today because of the heavy congestion of the crowd, unfortunately, a number of our fellow citizens who were mourning were injured and a number were killed," emergency medical services chief Pir Hossein Kolivand told state television. Watch: The body of Soleimani, a national hero to many Iranians but viewed as a dangerous villain by Western governments opposed to the Islamic Republic, had been taken to Iraqi and Iranian cities before arriving in Kerman for burial. In each place, huge numbers of people filled thoroughfares, chanting "Death to America" and weeping with emotion. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shed tears when leading prayers in Tehran. Soleimani, who commanded the elite Quds Force, was responsible for building up Tehran's network of proxy armies across the Middle East. He was a key figure in orchestrating Iran's long-standing campaign to drive US forces out of Iraq. Iran's opponents say its proxies have fuelled conflicts, killing and displacing people in Iraq, Syria and beyond. Tehran says any operations abroad are at the request of governments and that it offers "advisory support". The US defence secretary denied reports the U.S. military was preparing to withdraw from Iraq, where Tehran has vied with Washington for influence since the 2003 US invasion. Revenge "We will take revenge, hard and definitive revenge," the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Hossein Salami, told the crowds in Kerman before the stampede. Ali Shamkhani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said 13 "revenge scenarios" were being considered, Fars news agency reported. Even the weakest option would prove "a historic nightmare for the Americans," he said. Iran, whose coastline runs along a Gulf oil shipping route that includes the narrow Strait of Hormuz, has allied forces across the Middle East through which it can act. Representatives from those groups, including the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, attended funeral events in Tehran. Despite its strident rhetoric, analysts say Iran will want to avoid any conventional conflict with the United States and is likely to focus on asymmetric strikes, such as sabotage or other military action via proxies. Trump has promised to target 52 Iranian sites if Iran retaliates. Reuters and other media reported on Monday that the US military had sent a letter to Iraqi officials informing them US troops were preparing to leave. But US Defense Secretary Mark Esper denied there had been any decision to pull out. About 5,000 US troops are still in Iraq, where there has been a US military presence since Saddam Hussein was toppled in 2003. Friction Iraq's parliament, dominated by lawmakers representing Muslim Shi'ite groups who have been united by the killing of Soleimani alongside an Iraqi militia leader, passed a resolution on Sunday calling for all foreign troops to leave. Iraq's caretaker Prime Minister Abdel Abdul Mahdi told the US ambassador to Baghdad the resolution must be implemented. Friction between Iran and the United States has risen since Washington withdrew in 2018 from a nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. The United States has imposed new economic sanctions on Iran, slashing Iranian oil exports, and Tehran said on Sunday it was dropping limitations on uranium enrichment, in its latest step back from commitments to the deal. Washington denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to allow him to attend a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday, a US official said. Trump's US political rivals have challenged his decision to order the killing of Soleimani and questioned its timing in a US election year. His administration said Soleimani was planning new attacks on US interests without giving evidence. US general Milley said the threat from Soleimani was imminent. "We would have been culpably negligent to the American people had we not made the decision we made," he said. Trump administration officials will provide a classified briefing for US senators on Wednesday on events in Iraq after some lawmakers accused the White House of risking a broad conflict without a strategy.

At least 50 killed in stampede at Iranian general's funeral, burial postponed

As tension is rising between the United States and Iran after the killing of Iranian's top military commander, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-criticises-russia-china-at-un-over-failure-to-condemn-baghdad-embassy-attack-272600">Qasem Soleimani</a>, the Philippines government is preparing to evacuate thousands of Filipinos working in the Middle East region.&nbsp;

About 2.3 million people from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-from-philippines-typhoon-hits-50-271165">Philippines</a>&nbsp;are working in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;as domestic helpers, construction&nbsp;workers, engineers, and nurses.

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/take-it-or-leave-it-duterte-on-water-distribution-contract-272682">Rodrigo Duterte</a> has ordered the armed forces to prepare air and naval assets for the evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq, Iran, and nearby Arab countries, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday.

Saying he was deeply worried about the prospect of a "protracted-war", Duterte told reporters he sent a special envoy to Tehran and Baghdad to get assurances that Filipinos would be provided safe passage in case of evacuation.

"We have so many Filipinos working mainly in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East. I am nervous. Iran seems to be hell-bent on retaliation, which I think will come," Duterte said in a speech on Monday.

There are close to 7,000 Filipinos working and living in Iraq and more than 1,000 in Iran, according to government data.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who heads a newly created committee to prepare the evacuation, said the government is readying aircraft to ferry Filipinos in Iraq and Iran who wish to come home or be&nbsp;evacuated to safer areas.

"We can send transportation to fetch them," Lorenza told reporters, adding that hiring a cruise ship was among the things the government was considering to safely&nbsp;evacuate&nbsp;those who would wish to be repatriated.

Iran is considering 13 scenarios to avenge Friday's killing of Qassem Soleimani by a US&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-never-have-a-nuclear-weapon-says-trump-as-tehran-mourns-suleimani-272585">drone attack</a> in Iraq, a senior Tehran official said on Tuesday as the general's body was brought to his hometown for burial.

Filipinos in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;sent home $5.4 billion in remittances from January to October last year, accounting for a fifth of total remittances for that period, making the region a major source of foreign exchange inflows which help drive growth in the consumption-led Philippine economy.

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's Foreign Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-offer-to-host-apec-not-a-good-idea-malaysia-260620">Saifuddin Abdullah</a> advised Malaysians to defer nonessential travel to the region, "in particular areas where the security situation is critical", and for citizens in the region to register with their nearest foreign mission.

"The ministry advises all Malaysians residing, or currently traveling to the region to be more vigilant and take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and security,” Saifuddin told at a press conference.

As tension is rising between the United States and Iran after the killing of Iranian's top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, the Philippines government is preparing to evacuate thousands of Filipinos working in the Middle East region.

As tension is rising between the United States and Iran after the killing of Iranian's top military commander, Qasem Soleimani, the Philippines government is preparing to evacuate thousands of Filipinos working in the Middle East region. About 2.3 million people from the Philippines are working in the Middle East as domestic helpers, construction workers, engineers, and nurses. President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the armed forces to prepare air and naval assets for the evacuation of Filipinos in Iraq, Iran, and nearby Arab countries, his spokesman Salvador Panelo said on Tuesday. Saying he was deeply worried about the prospect of a "protracted-war", Duterte told reporters he sent a special envoy to Tehran and Baghdad to get assurances that Filipinos would be provided safe passage in case of evacuation. "We have so many Filipinos working mainly in the Middle East. I am nervous. Iran seems to be hell-bent on retaliation, which I think will come," Duterte said in a speech on Monday. There are close to 7,000 Filipinos working and living in Iraq and more than 1,000 in Iran, according to government data. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who heads a newly created committee to prepare the evacuation, said the government is readying aircraft to ferry Filipinos in Iraq and Iran who wish to come home or be evacuated to safer areas. "We can send transportation to fetch them," Lorenza told reporters, adding that hiring a cruise ship was among the things the government was considering to safely evacuate those who would wish to be repatriated. Iran is considering 13 scenarios to avenge Friday's killing of Qassem Soleimani by a US drone attack in Iraq, a senior Tehran official said on Tuesday as the general's body was brought to his hometown for burial. Filipinos in the Middle East sent home $5.4 billion in remittances from January to October last year, accounting for a fifth of total remittances for that period, making the region a major source of foreign exchange inflows which help drive growth in the consumption-led Philippine economy. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah advised Malaysians to defer nonessential travel to the region, "in particular areas where the security situation is critical", and for citizens in the region to register with their nearest foreign mission. "The ministry advises all Malaysians residing, or currently traveling to the region to be more vigilant and take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and security,” Saifuddin told at a press conference.

Philippines prepares for 'evacuation' of citizens in Middle East

A deadly stampede erupted on Tuesday at the funeral procession for a top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, killing 35 people and injuring 48 others.

The procession was being held in Soleimani's hometown of Kerman, where he will be laid to rest later in the day, according to state media.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-never-have-a-nuclear-weapon-says-trump-as-tehran-mourns-suleimani-272585">Also Read:&nbsp;Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, says Trump as Tehran mourns Suleimani</a>

"Unfortunately because of overcrowding 32 of our citizens lost their lives in the procession... and 190 were injured," the head of the country's emergency services, Pirhossein Koolivand, told the channel.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/crazy-trump-dont-think-that-everything-is-over-with-my-fathers-martyrdom-zeinab-soleimani-daughter-of-qassem-soleimani-272535">In Pics: Crazy Trump, don't think that everything is over, says Zeinab, daughter of Qasem Soleimani</a>

The injured were immediately transferred to hospital, he added.

Watch:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-soleimani-killed-thousands-mourn-the-generals-death-in-tehran-272594/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

AFP correspondents in Kerman said the streets of the southeastern city were packed with mourners for the funeral of Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani in his hometown.

People were seen taking refuge on hillsides around the city on state television.

Soleimani, the hugely popular head of the Guards' Quds Force, was assassinated on Friday in a US drone strike near Baghdad international airport, an operation that shocked the Islamic republic.

Tuesday's funeral comes after days of processions through the southwestern city of Ahvaz and the shrine cities of Qom and Mashhad as well as the capital Tehran.

(With inputs from AFP)

A deadly stampede erupted on Tuesday at the funeral procession for a top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, killing 35 people and injuring 48 others. The procession was being held in Soleimani's hometown of Kerman, where he will be laid to rest later in the day, according to state media.

A deadly stampede erupted on Tuesday at the funeral procession for a top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, killing 35 people and injuring 48 others. The procession was being held in Soleimani's hometown of Kerman, where he will be laid to rest later in the day, according to state media. Also Read: Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, says Trump as Tehran mourns Suleimani "Unfortunately because of overcrowding 32 of our citizens lost their lives in the procession... and 190 were injured," the head of the country's emergency services, Pirhossein Koolivand, told the channel. In Pics: Crazy Trump, don't think that everything is over, says Zeinab, daughter of Qasem Soleimani The injured were immediately transferred to hospital, he added. Watch: AFP correspondents in Kerman said the streets of the southeastern city were packed with mourners for the funeral of Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani in his hometown. People were seen taking refuge on hillsides around the city on state television. Soleimani, the hugely popular head of the Guards' Quds Force, was assassinated on Friday in a US drone strike near Baghdad international airport, an operation that shocked the Islamic republic. Tuesday's funeral comes after days of processions through the southwestern city of Ahvaz and the shrine cities of Qom and Mashhad as well as the capital Tehran. (With inputs from AFP)

Stampede kills 35 at slain Iranian general Qasem Soleimani's funeral

The killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani has further opened the door to a potential restructuring of the Gulf’s security architecture.

In line with an Iranian plan launched at last year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by President Hassan Rouhani that calls for a security architecture that would exclude external forces, cooler heads in Tehran argue that expulsion of all US troops from the Middle East would constitute revenge for Soleimani’s assassination.

While it likely would be a drawn-out process, Iraq’s parliament took a first step by unanimously asking the government in the absence of Kurdish and Sunni Muslim deputies to expel US forces from the country.

Ultimately, Iran may at best get only part of its wants.

Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has dialled back his initial support of Parliament’s demand, saying that any withdrawal would involve only US combat forces and not training and logistical support for the Iraqi military.

Similarly, Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar are unlikely to expel US forces and bases.

That does not mean that the foundation for the Gulf’s security architecture, grounded in a US defence umbrella primarily to shield the region’s energy-rich monarchies from potential Iranian aggression, is not shifting.

In fact, it was already shifting prior to the killing of Soleimani.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE that long supported US President Donald J Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran, involving the US withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program and the imposition of harsh economic sanctions, began hedging their bets in the second half of last year.

The Gulf may have on an emotive level privately celebrated the death of Soleimani, an architect of Iran’s use of proxies across the Middle East, but in a more rational analysis fear that his killing may have opened a Pandora’s box that could lead the region to all-out war.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE called for a de-escalation in the wake of the killing as Khalid bin Salman, the kingdom’s deputy defence minister and brother of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, travelled to Washington and London to urge restraint.

Ironically, the killing of Soleimani rather than strategically pleasing Gulf leaders may have reinforced concerns that they no longer can fully rely on the United States as their sole security guarantor.

If the United States’ refusal last year to respond forcefully to a string of Iranian provocations sparked Gulf doubts, Solemani’s killing raises the spectre of US overreach when it does.

Trump’s threat to attack Iranian cultural sites, despite animosity towards Iran and anti-Shiite sentiment in some Gulf quarters, is likely to have reinforced that concern.

The Gulf states’ hedging of their bets will not make Rouhani’s proposal any more attractive but it has already led to direct and indirect diplomacy by the UAE and Saudi Arabia to reduce tension with Iran.

Solemani was killed on the morning that he reportedly was to deliver to Abdul Mahdi, the Iraqi Prime Minister, an Iranian response to a Saudi initiative to defuse tension.

While Rouhani’s proposal is a non-starter, it contains one element that could prove to have legs: some form of non-aggression agreement or understanding between the Gulf states and Iran.

The notion of an understanding on non-aggression would stroke with a Russian proposal for an alternative multilateral arrangement that calls for a regional security conference along the lines of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the OSCE.

Unlike Rouhani’s proposition, the Russian proposal would involve multiple external powers, including Russia, China and India, but, in the knowledge that no country can as of now replace the United States militarily, be centred on US military muscle.

The proposal, endorsed by China, potentially could cater to Trump’s demand for burden-sharing and financial compensation for a continued US role in security across the globe.

Russian officials and surrogates for the Kremlin stress that the proposal seeks to capitalize on the United States’ mushrooming predicament in the Middle East but does not mean that Russia was willing to make the kind of commitment that would position it as an alternative to the US.

Similarly, the nature of China’s participation in last month’s first-ever joint Chinese-Russian-Iranian naval exercise signalled that closer Chinese military ties with a host of Middle Eastern nations did not translate into Chinese aspirations for a greater role in regional security any time soon.

China contributed elements of its anti-piracy fleet that were already in Somali waters to protect commercial vessels as well as peacekeeping and humanitarian relief personnel rather than combat troops.

As they hedge their bets, Gulf states may want to take their time in thinking about a more multilateral security arrangement that includes but goes beyond the United States.

The Gulf states’ problem is&nbsp;fast-moving and to some degree, unpredictable developments in the Middle East could change their calculus.

That is also true for Russia and particularly China that has long maintained that its security interests in the region, based on the ability to freeride on the US defence umbrella, were best served by mutually beneficial economic and trade relations.

Increasingly that approach could prove unsustainable.

Said Jiang Xudong, a Middle East scholar at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences: “Economic investment will not solve all other problems when there are religious and ethnic conflicts.”

Xudong could just as well have included power struggles and regional rivalries in his analysis. 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani has further opened the door to a potential restructuring of the Gulf’s security architecture. In line with an Iranian plan launched at last year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by President Hassan Rouhani that calls for a security architecture that would exclude external forces, cooler heads in Tehran argue that expulsion of all US troops from the Middle East would constitute revenge for Soleimani’s assassination.

The killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani has further opened the door to a potential restructuring of the Gulf’s security architecture. In line with an Iranian plan launched at last year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by President Hassan Rouhani that calls for a security architecture that would exclude external forces, cooler heads in Tehran argue that expulsion of all US troops from the Middle East would constitute revenge for Soleimani’s assassination. While it likely would be a drawn-out process, Iraq’s parliament took a first step by unanimously asking the government in the absence of Kurdish and Sunni Muslim deputies to expel US forces from the country. Ultimately, Iran may at best get only part of its wants. Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has dialled back his initial support of Parliament’s demand, saying that any withdrawal would involve only US combat forces and not training and logistical support for the Iraqi military. Similarly, Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar are unlikely to expel US forces and bases. That does not mean that the foundation for the Gulf’s security architecture, grounded in a US defence umbrella primarily to shield the region’s energy-rich monarchies from potential Iranian aggression, is not shifting. In fact, it was already shifting prior to the killing of Soleimani. Saudi Arabia and the UAE that long supported US President Donald J Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against Iran, involving the US withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program and the imposition of harsh economic sanctions, began hedging their bets in the second half of last year. The Gulf may have on an emotive level privately celebrated the death of Soleimani, an architect of Iran’s use of proxies across the Middle East, but in a more rational analysis fear that his killing may have opened a Pandora’s box that could lead the region to all-out war. Saudi Arabia and the UAE called for a de-escalation in the wake of the killing as Khalid bin Salman, the kingdom’s deputy defence minister and brother of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, travelled to Washington and London to urge restraint. Ironically, the killing of Soleimani rather than strategically pleasing Gulf leaders may have reinforced concerns that they no longer can fully rely on the United States as their sole security guarantor. If the United States’ refusal last year to respond forcefully to a string of Iranian provocations sparked Gulf doubts, Solemani’s killing raises the spectre of US overreach when it does. Trump’s threat to attack Iranian cultural sites, despite animosity towards Iran and anti-Shiite sentiment in some Gulf quarters, is likely to have reinforced that concern. The Gulf states’ hedging of their bets will not make Rouhani’s proposal any more attractive but it has already led to direct and indirect diplomacy by the UAE and Saudi Arabia to reduce tension with Iran. Solemani was killed on the morning that he reportedly was to deliver to Abdul Mahdi, the Iraqi Prime Minister, an Iranian response to a Saudi initiative to defuse tension. While Rouhani’s proposal is a non-starter, it contains one element that could prove to have legs: some form of non-aggression agreement or understanding between the Gulf states and Iran. The notion of an understanding on non-aggression would stroke with a Russian proposal for an alternative multilateral arrangement that calls for a regional security conference along the lines of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the OSCE. Unlike Rouhani’s proposition, the Russian proposal would involve multiple external powers, including Russia, China and India, but, in the knowledge that no country can as of now replace the United States militarily, be centred on US military muscle. The proposal, endorsed by China, potentially could cater to Trump’s demand for burden-sharing and financial compensation for a continued US role in security across the globe. Russian officials and surrogates for the Kremlin stress that the proposal seeks to capitalize on the United States’ mushrooming predicament in the Middle East but does not mean that Russia was willing to make the kind of commitment that would position it as an alternative to the US. Similarly, the nature of China’s participation in last month’s first-ever joint Chinese-Russian-Iranian naval exercise signalled that closer Chinese military ties with a host of Middle Eastern nations did not translate into Chinese aspirations for a greater role in regional security any time soon. China contributed elements of its anti-piracy fleet that were already in Somali waters to protect commercial vessels as well as peacekeeping and humanitarian relief personnel rather than combat troops. As they hedge their bets, Gulf states may want to take their time in thinking about a more multilateral security arrangement that includes but goes beyond the United States. The Gulf states’ problem is fast-moving and to some degree, unpredictable developments in the Middle East could change their calculus. That is also true for Russia and particularly China that has long maintained that its security interests in the region, based on the ability to freeride on the US defence umbrella, were best served by mutually beneficial economic and trade relations. Increasingly that approach could prove unsustainable. Said Jiang Xudong, a Middle East scholar at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences: “Economic investment will not solve all other problems when there are religious and ethnic conflicts.” Xudong could just as well have included power struggles and regional rivalries in his analysis. (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Qasem Soleimani’s death opens a door to alternative security arrangements in the Gulf

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-has-right-to-self-defence-says-israels-benjamin-netanyahu-after-soleimanis-killing-271977">Israel</a>'s energy minister said on Tuesday it is too early to determine whether Iran is on the path towards building a nuclear weapon after it announced it would abandon limitations on enriching uranium.

"It's too early to say," the minister, Yuval Steinitz, told Israel Radio when asked if Iran was on the way towards constructing an atomic bomb. "We have to wait and see."

Watch: Israel - Saturday's flood killed two people in Tel Aviv city

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On Sunday, two days after a US&nbsp;drone strike in Baghdad killed a top Iranian military commander, Tehran said it would abandon limitations on enriching uranium.

Iran has already breached many of the restrictions of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-never-have-a-nuclear-weapon-says-trump-as-tehran-mourns-suleimani-272585">2015 nuclear deal</a> with world powers, from which the United States withdrew in 2018.

But Iran also has said it would continue to cooperate with the UN&nbsp;nuclear watchdog and could quickly reverse its steps if US&nbsp;sanctions are removed.

Steinitz, a member of Israel's security cabinet, reiterated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israels-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-in-apparent-stumble-calls-israel-a-nuclear-power-272310">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>'s pledge that Israel would never allow arch-enemy Iran to have nuclear weapons.

But he appeared to try to distance Israel - whose military, according to Army Radio, went on alert after Friday's US&nbsp;strike in Iraq - from the current heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.

"We are standing on the sidelines, observing events," he said.

Israel's energy minister said on Tuesday it is too early to determine whether Iran is on the path towards building a nuclear weapon after it announced it would abandon limitations on enriching uranium.

Israel's energy minister said on Tuesday it is too early to determine whether Iran is on the path towards building a nuclear weapon after it announced it would abandon limitations on enriching uranium. "It's too early to say," the minister, Yuval Steinitz, told Israel Radio when asked if Iran was on the way towards constructing an atomic bomb. "We have to wait and see." Watch: Israel - Saturday's flood killed two people in Tel Aviv city × On Sunday, two days after a US drone strike in Baghdad killed a top Iranian military commander, Tehran said it would abandon limitations on enriching uranium. Iran has already breached many of the restrictions of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, from which the United States withdrew in 2018. But Iran also has said it would continue to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog and could quickly reverse its steps if US sanctions are removed. Steinitz, a member of Israel's security cabinet, reiterated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pledge that Israel would never allow arch-enemy Iran to have nuclear weapons. But he appeared to try to distance Israel - whose military, according to Army Radio, went on alert after Friday's US strike in Iraq - from the current heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. "We are standing on the sidelines, observing events," he said.

Too early to say if Iran on path towards nuclear weapon: Israeli minister

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-china-ink-3-agreements-during-chinese-fms-visit-248757">Nepal</a> Foreign Affairs on Sunday alerted its missions overlooking Iran and Iraq as tensions in the region heightened following the killing of Iran's top military general <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-killing-of-qasem-soleimani-will-lead-to-the-strengthening-of-iranian-hardliners-272109">Qasem Soleimani</a> in a US-led drone strike.

The foreign office has ordered its mission in Kuwait and Pakistan to remain vigilant in the wake of rising in tensions in the Middle East and send a timely update about the situation and condition regarding the prevailing situation.

"We have ordered them to maintain vigilance and establish a proper communication channel with Nepali nationals there. They are also asked to submit timely reports on-ground situation as both the nations come under them," the spokesperson of Nepal's Foreign Affairs Ministry Bharatraj Poudyal told ANI.

Soleimani was killed last week in the drone strike authorised by US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-media-challenges-vice-president-mike-pences-claims-of-soleimani-assisting-911-terrorists-272199">Donald Trump</a> which further increased tensions in the Middle East.

The US has also asked its citizens to leave in the wake of Soleimani's killing. Iran has also declared three days of mourning following the development.

Earlier today, Trump warned Iran saying that if it strikes any Americans or American assets, the US has "targeted 52 Iranian sites" and it "will be hit very fast and very hard".

Trump on Saturday had said that the killing of Soleimani was aimed 'to stop a war, not to start a war.' He also said that Soleimani was plotting attacks on US diplomats and military personnel before he was killed.

The attack came just days after Hashd members and supporters attempted to storm the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/an-attack-in-the-homeland-may-come-with-little-or-no-warning-us-department-of-homeland-security-272207">US Embassy in Baghdad</a>, in response to the air attacks against Kataib Hezbollah a member of the umbrella organisation that operates in Iraq and Syria.

The Nepal Foreign Affairs on Sunday alerted its missions overlooking Iran and Iraq as tensions in the region heightened following the killing of Iran's top military general Qasem Soleimani in a US-led drone strike.

The Nepal Foreign Affairs on Sunday alerted its missions overlooking Iran and Iraq as tensions in the region heightened following the killing of Iran's top military general Qasem Soleimani in a US-led drone strike. The foreign office has ordered its mission in Kuwait and Pakistan to remain vigilant in the wake of rising in tensions in the Middle East and send a timely update about the situation and condition regarding the prevailing situation. "We have ordered them to maintain vigilance and establish a proper communication channel with Nepali nationals there. They are also asked to submit timely reports on-ground situation as both the nations come under them," the spokesperson of Nepal's Foreign Affairs Ministry Bharatraj Poudyal told ANI. Soleimani was killed last week in the drone strike authorised by US President Donald Trump which further increased tensions in the Middle East. The US has also asked its citizens to leave in the wake of Soleimani's killing. Iran has also declared three days of mourning following the development. Earlier today, Trump warned Iran saying that if it strikes any Americans or American assets, the US has "targeted 52 Iranian sites" and it "will be hit very fast and very hard". Trump on Saturday had said that the killing of Soleimani was aimed 'to stop a war, not to start a war.' He also said that Soleimani was plotting attacks on US diplomats and military personnel before he was killed. The attack came just days after Hashd members and supporters attempted to storm the US Embassy in Baghdad, in response to the air attacks against Kataib Hezbollah a member of the umbrella organisation that operates in Iraq and Syria.

Nepal's foreign ministry alerts embassies amid rising tensions in Middle East

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 - January 06, 2020

How people in Iraq mourn death of Qasem Soleimani

Wall&nbsp;Street's major indexes fell from record highs on Friday after a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-row-us-senate-in-stalemate-over-how-to-proceed-272003">US&nbsp;airstrike</a> in Iraq ratcheted up&nbsp;tensions&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;and a bigger-than-expected contraction in the US&nbsp;manufacturing sector raised concerns of slowing economic growth.

Friday's decline put the benchmark <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indian-shares-slip-as-oil-jumps-after-us-air-strikes-in-middle-east-271832">S&amp;P&nbsp;500</a>&nbsp;in the red for the week, snapping a five-week&nbsp;winning&nbsp;streak&nbsp;for the index.

Demand for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-markets-oil-gold-safe-haven-assets-gains-as-us-strike-kills-iranian-commander-271901">safe-haven assets</a> soared as Iran vowed revenge for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, head of its elite Quds Force, in an airstrike authorized by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

In a further blow to US&nbsp;market sentiment, data from the Institute for Supply Management showed that US&nbsp;factory activity contracted in December by the most in more than a decade.

"There was a reinforcement of weak manufacturing activity and then you had the geopolitical spark," said Michael Antonelli, market strategist at Robert W. Baird in Milwaukee. "That's on top of the sentiment that the market has been overbought."

S&amp;P&nbsp;500&nbsp;bank stocks dropped 1.6 per cent&nbsp;as the news sent benchmark US&nbsp;bond yields&nbsp;to their lowest since December&nbsp;12.

Shares of airlines also tumbled as oil prices jumped about 3 per cent. American Airlines Group Inc&nbsp;shares dropped 5.0 per cent, while shares of United Airlines Holdings Inc fell 2.1 per cent.

Among the S&amp;P&nbsp;500's 11 major sectors, only real estate and utilities both considered defensive plays, ended higher.

In a sign of investor jitters, US&nbsp;stocks extended their fall following a false report of an attack on a US&nbsp;military base in Iraq.

Shares of US&nbsp;defence companies jumped on news of the airstrike that killed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/soleimani-contributed-to-plotting-terror-attacks-in-new-delhi-london-trump-272027">Soleimani</a>. Northrop Grumman Corp&nbsp;shares climbed 5.4 per cent&nbsp;and Lockheed Martin Corp&nbsp;shares rose 3.6 per cent. The two provided the biggest boosts to the S&amp;P&nbsp;500.

The market disturbance following the strike could be fleeting, said Wayne Wicker, a chief investment officer of Vantagepoint Investment Advisers in Washington.

"We've looked at many types of conflicts over the last 20 years, and they've had much more of a short-term impact," Wicker said.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 233.92 points, or 0.81 per cent, to 28,634.88. The S&amp;P&nbsp;500 lost 23 points, or 0.71 per cent, to 3,234.85. The Nasdaq Composite&nbsp;dropped 71.42 points, or 0.79 per cent, to 9,020.77.

For the week, the Dow dipped 0.04 per cent, the S&amp;P&nbsp;500&nbsp;fell 0.17 per cent, and the Nasdaq rose 0.16 per cent.

Among advancers, Tesla Inc&nbsp;shares hit a record high and ended up 3.0 per cent&nbsp;after the automaker beat estimates for vehicle deliveries in the fourth quarter.

Lamb Weston Holdings Inc shares surged 11.3 per cent, the biggest percentage gain on the S&amp;P&nbsp;500, after the frozen foods supplier's quarterly results surpassed estimates.

Shares of retailer L Brands Inc&nbsp;rose 7.8 per cent&nbsp;after Bank of America upgraded its rating on the company's stock.

Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/world-stocks-hit-all-time-high-after-trump-tweets-close-to-china-deal-267973">NYSE</a> by a 1.14-to-1 ratio. On Nasdaq, a 1.71-to-1 ratio favoured decliners.

The S&amp;P&nbsp;500&nbsp;posted 22 new 52-week highs and one new low. The Nasdaq Composite recorded 60 new highs and 15 new lows.

Volume on US&nbsp;exchanges was 7.47 billion shares, compared to the 6.87 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

Wall Street's major indexes fell from record highs on Friday after a US airstrike in Iraq ratcheted up tensions in the Middle East and a bigger-than-expected contraction in the US manufacturing sector raised concerns of slowing economic growth.

Wall Street's major indexes fell from record highs on Friday after a US airstrike in Iraq ratcheted up tensions in the Middle East and a bigger-than-expected contraction in the US manufacturing sector raised concerns of slowing economic growth. Friday's decline put the benchmark S&P 500 in the red for the week, snapping a five-week winning streak for the index. Demand for safe-haven assets soared as Iran vowed revenge for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, head of its elite Quds Force, in an airstrike authorized by US President Donald Trump. In a further blow to US market sentiment, data from the Institute for Supply Management showed that US factory activity contracted in December by the most in more than a decade. "There was a reinforcement of weak manufacturing activity and then you had the geopolitical spark," said Michael Antonelli, market strategist at Robert W. Baird in Milwaukee. "That's on top of the sentiment that the market has been overbought." S&P 500 bank stocks dropped 1.6 per cent as the news sent benchmark US bond yields to their lowest since December 12. Shares of airlines also tumbled as oil prices jumped about 3 per cent. American Airlines Group Inc shares dropped 5.0 per cent, while shares of United Airlines Holdings Inc fell 2.1 per cent. Among the S&P 500's 11 major sectors, only real estate and utilities both considered defensive plays, ended higher. In a sign of investor jitters, US stocks extended their fall following a false report of an attack on a US military base in Iraq. Shares of US defence companies jumped on news of the airstrike that killed Soleimani. Northrop Grumman Corp shares climbed 5.4 per cent and Lockheed Martin Corp shares rose 3.6 per cent. The two provided the biggest boosts to the S&P 500. The market disturbance following the strike could be fleeting, said Wayne Wicker, a chief investment officer of Vantagepoint Investment Advisers in Washington. "We've looked at many types of conflicts over the last 20 years, and they've had much more of a short-term impact," Wicker said. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 233.92 points, or 0.81 per cent, to 28,634.88. The S&P 500 lost 23 points, or 0.71 per cent, to 3,234.85. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 71.42 points, or 0.79 per cent, to 9,020.77. For the week, the Dow dipped 0.04 per cent, the S&P 500 fell 0.17 per cent, and the Nasdaq rose 0.16 per cent. Among advancers, Tesla Inc shares hit a record high and ended up 3.0 per cent after the automaker beat estimates for vehicle deliveries in the fourth quarter. Lamb Weston Holdings Inc shares surged 11.3 per cent, the biggest percentage gain on the S&P 500, after the frozen foods supplier's quarterly results surpassed estimates. Shares of retailer L Brands Inc rose 7.8 per cent after Bank of America upgraded its rating on the company's stock. Declining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 1.14-to-1 ratio. On Nasdaq, a 1.71-to-1 ratio favoured decliners. The S&P 500 posted 22 new 52-week highs and one new low. The Nasdaq Composite recorded 60 new highs and 15 new lows. Volume on US exchanges was 7.47 billion shares, compared to the 6.87 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

S&P 500 snaps win streak as Middle East tensions push down Wall Street

&nbsp;A broad gauge of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-markets-china-lifts-asian-shares-oil-up-on-drawdowns-mideast-tensions-270929">Asian share </a>markets rose to an 18-month high on Monday as Chinese equities gained, while oil touched three-month highs on a combination of US&nbsp;crude inventory drawdowns, trade optimism and unrest in the Middle East.

But European shares were expected to open lower as investors take a breather from recent rallies.

In early European trade, the pan-region Euro Stoxx 50 futures were down 0.16 per cent&nbsp;at 3,764, German DAX futures were down 0.22 per cent&nbsp;at 13,291.5 and FTSE futures were down 0.11&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;at 7,578.5.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose to its highest since June 19, 2018, before trimming gains. It was last up by 0.05 per cent.

Chinese blue chips, which had started the day lower, were up 1.13&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;in afternoon trade, bolstered by a report that 2019 retail sales are forecast to rise 8&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;and expectations that a new benchmark for floating-rate loans could lower borrowing costs and boost flagging economic growth.

But Australian shares finished 0.25 per cent&nbsp;lower as investors continued to consolidate recent gains.

Japan's Nikkei stock index finished its last trading day of the year down 0.76 per cent. The index gained 18.2per cent&nbsp;in 2019 after dropping 12.8 per cent&nbsp;last year. Easing trade war worries and reduced uncertainty over the United Kingdom's plans to leave the European Union after British elections returned a strong Conservative majority have offered a lift to global equities this month, helping the broad MSCI Asia index rise more than 6 per cent&nbsp;and putting it on track for its strongest month since January.

Kay Van-Petersen, the global macro strategist at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-markets-china-lifts-asian-shares-oil-up-on-drawdowns-mideast-tensions-270929">Saxo Capital Markets</a>, said that limited liquidity near the year-end and the easing of US-China trade and Brexit uncertainties has "just left us drifting up higher. So even if there is a pullback.&nbsp;I don't think it's going to be significant by any means."

Global equity markets gained late last week, with the S&amp;P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at records on Friday.

The Dow ended 0.08 per cent&nbsp;higher at 28,645.26 and the S&amp;P edged up just 0.11 points to 3,240.02. The Nasdaq Composite lost steam at the close, falling 0.17 per cent&nbsp;to 9,006.62.

Oil also gained on Friday, with prices posting their fourth consecutive weekly gain to steady around their highest in three months.

On Monday, global benchmark Brent crude was up 0.31per cent&nbsp;to $68.37 per barrel, while US&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/crude-oil-prices-fall-1-on-fears-for-global-economy-233148">West Texas Intermediate</a> crude added 0.13 per cent&nbsp;to $61.80, reversing an earlier decline.

Oil's gains followed news of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/25-isis-terrorists-killed-in-us-airstrikes-in-iraq-175533">US&nbsp;airstrikes</a> in Iraq and Syria against Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia group. US&nbsp;officials said Sunday that the attacks were successful, but warned that "additional actions" may be taken to defend US&nbsp;interests.

But Stephen Innes, strategist at AxiTrader, said that the rise of shale oil production in the United States would offset any geopolitical risks.

"Shale can really ramp up more volumes to accommodate any shortfall that could possibly be triggered by an escalation in Syria," he said, adding that an upsurge in populism in Iraq posed a larger risk to markets.

Iraq's oil ministry said on Sunday that the halting of oil production at Iraq's southern Nassiriya oilfield by protestors would not affect the country's exports and operations.

Oil prices were also supported by a bigger-than-expected decline in crude inventories in the United States, the world's biggest fuel consumer. Stockpiles fell by 5.5 million barrels in the week to December&nbsp;20, far exceeding a 1.7-million-barrel drop forecast in a Reuters poll, the government data showed on Friday.

Gold also continued its run-up, boosted by a weak dollar, after posting its best week in more than four months on Friday amid thin trading volumes.

The precious metal on Monday rose 0.3 per cent&nbsp;to $1,515 per ounce on the spot market.

In the currency markets, the dollar was 0.27&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;lower against the yen at 109.11 and the euro was up 0.23&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;on the day at $1.1201.

The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was down 0.14&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;to 96.786.

The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes was at 1.877 per cent&nbsp;compared with its US&nbsp;close of 1.873&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;on Friday, while the two-year yield edged down to 1.5812 per cent&nbsp;compared with a US&nbsp;close of 1.589 per cent.

A broad gauge of Asian share markets rose to an 18-month high on Monday as Chinese equities gained, while oil touched three-month highs on a combination of US crude inventory drawdowns, trade optimism and unrest in the Middle East.

A broad gauge of Asian share markets rose to an 18-month high on Monday as Chinese equities gained, while oil touched three-month highs on a combination of US crude inventory drawdowns, trade optimism and unrest in the Middle East. But European shares were expected to open lower as investors take a breather from recent rallies. In early European trade, the pan-region Euro Stoxx 50 futures were down 0.16 per cent at 3,764, German DAX futures were down 0.22 per cent at 13,291.5 and FTSE futures were down 0.11 per cent at 7,578.5. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose to its highest since June 19, 2018, before trimming gains. It was last up by 0.05 per cent. Chinese blue chips, which had started the day lower, were up 1.13 per cent in afternoon trade, bolstered by a report that 2019 retail sales are forecast to rise 8 per cent and expectations that a new benchmark for floating-rate loans could lower borrowing costs and boost flagging economic growth. But Australian shares finished 0.25 per cent lower as investors continued to consolidate recent gains. Japan's Nikkei stock index finished its last trading day of the year down 0.76 per cent. The index gained 18.2per cent in 2019 after dropping 12.8 per cent last year. Easing trade war worries and reduced uncertainty over the United Kingdom's plans to leave the European Union after British elections returned a strong Conservative majority have offered a lift to global equities this month, helping the broad MSCI Asia index rise more than 6 per cent and putting it on track for its strongest month since January. Kay Van-Petersen, the global macro strategist at Saxo Capital Markets, said that limited liquidity near the year-end and the easing of US-China trade and Brexit uncertainties has "just left us drifting up higher. So even if there is a pullback. I don't think it's going to be significant by any means." Global equity markets gained late last week, with the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at records on Friday. The Dow ended 0.08 per cent higher at 28,645.26 and the S&P edged up just 0.11 points to 3,240.02. The Nasdaq Composite lost steam at the close, falling 0.17 per cent to 9,006.62. Oil also gained on Friday, with prices posting their fourth consecutive weekly gain to steady around their highest in three months. On Monday, global benchmark Brent crude was up 0.31per cent to $68.37 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude added 0.13 per cent to $61.80, reversing an earlier decline. Oil's gains followed news of US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia group. US officials said Sunday that the attacks were successful, but warned that "additional actions" may be taken to defend US interests. But Stephen Innes, strategist at AxiTrader, said that the rise of shale oil production in the United States would offset any geopolitical risks. "Shale can really ramp up more volumes to accommodate any shortfall that could possibly be triggered by an escalation in Syria," he said, adding that an upsurge in populism in Iraq posed a larger risk to markets. Iraq's oil ministry said on Sunday that the halting of oil production at Iraq's southern Nassiriya oilfield by protestors would not affect the country's exports and operations. Oil prices were also supported by a bigger-than-expected decline in crude inventories in the United States, the world's biggest fuel consumer. Stockpiles fell by 5.5 million barrels in the week to December 20, far exceeding a 1.7-million-barrel drop forecast in a Reuters poll, the government data showed on Friday. Gold also continued its run-up, boosted by a weak dollar, after posting its best week in more than four months on Friday amid thin trading volumes. The precious metal on Monday rose 0.3 per cent to $1,515 per ounce on the spot market. In the currency markets, the dollar was 0.27 per cent lower against the yen at 109.11 and the euro was up 0.23 per cent on the day at $1.1201. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was down 0.14 per cent to 96.786. The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes was at 1.877 per cent compared with its US close of 1.873 per cent on Friday, while the two-year yield edged down to 1.5812 per cent compared with a US close of 1.589 per cent.

Global Markets: Asian shares at 18-month highs; Nikkei finishes year up 18%

A broad gauge of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/asian-shares-near-18-month-high-bask-in-trade-deal-afterglow-269696">Asian share</a> markets rose to the highest in 18 months on Monday as Chinese equities gained, while oil hovered near three-month highs on a combination of US&nbsp;crude inventory drawdowns, trade optimism and unrest in the Middle East.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was last up 0.2 per cent, turning around from an earlier loss. The index rose to its highest since June 19.

Chinese blue chips, which had started the day lower, were up 1.24&nbsp;per cent at the midday break, bolstered by a report that 2019 retail sales are forecast to rise 8&nbsp;per cent and expectations that a new benchmark for floating-rate loans could lower borrowing costs and boost flagging economic growth.

But Australian shares remained down 0.44 per cent as investors continued to consolidate recent gains. Japan's Nikkei stock index slid 0.58 per cent. Easing trade war worries and reduced uncertainty over the United Kingdom's plans to leave the European Union after British elections returned a strong Conservative majority have offered a lift to global equities this month, helping the broad MSCI Asia index rise more than 6 per cent and putting it on track for its strongest month since January.

Kay Van-Petersen, a global macro strategist at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/asian-shares-climb-as-trump-says-us-china-trade-deal-near-264827">Saxo Capital Markets</a>, said that limited liquidity near the year-end and the easing of US-China trade and Brexit uncertainties has "just left us drifting up higher. So even if there is a pullback&nbsp;I don't think it's going to be significant by any means."

Global equity markets gained late last week, with the S&amp;P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at records on Friday.

The Dow ended 0.08per cent higher at 28,645.26 and the S&amp;P edged up just 0.11 points to 3,240.02. The Nasdaq Composite lost steam at the close, falling 0.17&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;to 9,006.62.

Oil also gained on Friday, with prices posting their fourth consecutive weekly gain to steady around their highest in three months.

On Monday, global benchmark Brent crude was up 0.18&nbsp;per cent to $68.28 per barrel, while US&nbsp;West Texas Intermediate crude added 0.05% to $61.75, reversing an earlier decline.

Oil's gains followed news of US&nbsp;airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia group. US&nbsp;officials said Sunday that the attacks were successful, but warned that "additional actions" may be taken to defend US&nbsp;interests.

But Stephen Innes, strategist at AxiTrader, said that the rise of shale oil production in the United States would offset any geopolitical risks.

"Shale can really ramp up more volumes to accommodate any shortfall that could possibly be triggered by an escalation in Syria," he said, adding that an upsurge in populism in Iraq posed a larger risk to markets.

Iraq's oil ministry said on Sunday that the halting of oil production at Iraq's southern Nassiriya oilfield by protestors would not affect the country's exports and operations.

Oil prices were also supported by a bigger-than-expected decline in crude inventories in the United States, the world's biggest fuel consumer. Stockpiles fell by 5.5 million barrels in the week to December&nbsp;20, far exceeding a 1.7-million-barrel drop forecast in a Reuters poll, the government data showed on Friday.

Gold also continued its run-up, after posting its best week in more than four months on Friday amid thin trading volumes, in a sign that some investors continue to see risks to global growth and US-China trade.

The precious metal on Monday rose 0.33&nbsp;per cent to $1,515.40 per ounce on the spot market.

In the currency market, the dollar was 0.30&nbsp;per cent lower against the yen at 109.08 and the euro was up 0.27 per cent on the day at $1.1194.

The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was down 0.2&nbsp;per cent &nbsp;to 96.736.

The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes was at 1.8752 per cent &nbsp;compared with its US&nbsp;close of 1.873&nbsp;per cent &nbsp;on Friday, while the two-year yield edged down to 1.5832 per cent&nbsp;compared with a US&nbsp;close of 1.589 per cent .

A broad gauge of Asian share markets rose to the highest in 18 months on Monday as Chinese equities gained, while oil hovered near three-month highs on a combination of US crude inventory drawdowns, trade optimism and unrest in the Middle East.

A broad gauge of Asian share markets rose to the highest in 18 months on Monday as Chinese equities gained, while oil hovered near three-month highs on a combination of US crude inventory drawdowns, trade optimism and unrest in the Middle East. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was last up 0.2 per cent, turning around from an earlier loss. The index rose to its highest since June 19. Chinese blue chips, which had started the day lower, were up 1.24 per cent at the midday break, bolstered by a report that 2019 retail sales are forecast to rise 8 per cent and expectations that a new benchmark for floating-rate loans could lower borrowing costs and boost flagging economic growth. But Australian shares remained down 0.44 per cent as investors continued to consolidate recent gains. Japan's Nikkei stock index slid 0.58 per cent. Easing trade war worries and reduced uncertainty over the United Kingdom's plans to leave the European Union after British elections returned a strong Conservative majority have offered a lift to global equities this month, helping the broad MSCI Asia index rise more than 6 per cent and putting it on track for its strongest month since January. Kay Van-Petersen, a global macro strategist at Saxo Capital Markets, said that limited liquidity near the year-end and the easing of US-China trade and Brexit uncertainties has "just left us drifting up higher. So even if there is a pullback I don't think it's going to be significant by any means." Global equity markets gained late last week, with the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at records on Friday. The Dow ended 0.08per cent higher at 28,645.26 and the S&P edged up just 0.11 points to 3,240.02. The Nasdaq Composite lost steam at the close, falling 0.17 per cent to 9,006.62. Oil also gained on Friday, with prices posting their fourth consecutive weekly gain to steady around their highest in three months. On Monday, global benchmark Brent crude was up 0.18 per cent to $68.28 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude added 0.05% to $61.75, reversing an earlier decline. Oil's gains followed news of US airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia group. US officials said Sunday that the attacks were successful, but warned that "additional actions" may be taken to defend US interests. But Stephen Innes, strategist at AxiTrader, said that the rise of shale oil production in the United States would offset any geopolitical risks. "Shale can really ramp up more volumes to accommodate any shortfall that could possibly be triggered by an escalation in Syria," he said, adding that an upsurge in populism in Iraq posed a larger risk to markets. Iraq's oil ministry said on Sunday that the halting of oil production at Iraq's southern Nassiriya oilfield by protestors would not affect the country's exports and operations. Oil prices were also supported by a bigger-than-expected decline in crude inventories in the United States, the world's biggest fuel consumer. Stockpiles fell by 5.5 million barrels in the week to December 20, far exceeding a 1.7-million-barrel drop forecast in a Reuters poll, the government data showed on Friday. Gold also continued its run-up, after posting its best week in more than four months on Friday amid thin trading volumes, in a sign that some investors continue to see risks to global growth and US-China trade. The precious metal on Monday rose 0.33 per cent to $1,515.40 per ounce on the spot market. In the currency market, the dollar was 0.30 per cent lower against the yen at 109.08 and the euro was up 0.27 per cent on the day at $1.1194. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was down 0.2 per cent to 96.736. The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes was at 1.8752 per cent compared with its US close of 1.873 per cent on Friday, while the two-year yield edged down to 1.5832 per cent compared with a US close of 1.589 per cent .

Global Markets: China lifts Asian shares; oil up on drawdowns, Mideast tensions

Japan&nbsp;will&nbsp;send&nbsp;a&nbsp;warship&nbsp;and patrol planes to&nbsp;protect&nbsp;Japanese ships in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;as the situation in the region, from which it sources nearly 90 per cent of its crude oil imports, remains volatile,&nbsp;Japan's top government spokesman said on Friday.

Under the plan approved by Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/japanese-pm-shinzo-abe-likely-to-visit-indias-imphal-in-december-265170">Shinzo Abe</a>'s cabinet, a helicopter-equipped destroyer and two P-3C patrol planes will be dispatched for information-gathering aimed at ensuring safe passage for&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;through the region.

If there are any emergencies, a special order would be issued by the&nbsp;Japanese defence minister to allow the forces to use weapons to&nbsp;protect&nbsp;ships in danger.

"Peace and stability in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;are extremely important for the peace and prosperity of the international community including&nbsp;Japan," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference.

"Also, it is very important to make sure&nbsp;Japan-related ships can sail safely in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East, the world's major source of energy."

Friction between Iran and the United States has increased since last year, when US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/global-stocks-rattled-after-donald-trump-says-no-deadline-on-us-china-trade-deal-266025">Donald Trump</a> pulled the United States out of a 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran and re-imposed sanctions on it, crippling its economy.

In May and June, there were several attacks on international merchant&nbsp;vessels&nbsp;in the region, including the&nbsp;Japanese-owned tanker Kokuka Courageous, which the United States blamed on Iran. Tehran denies the accusations.

Oil importers and refiners welcomed the government's decision.

"The&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East&nbsp;situation remains unpredictable. We believe the decision, made against this backdrop, will benefit the safe passage of ships in the region," Petroleum Association of&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;President Takashi Tsukioka said in a statement.

Japan, a US&nbsp;ally that has maintained friendly ties with Iran, has opted to launch its own operation rather than join a US-led mission to&nbsp;protect&nbsp;shipping in the region.

Abe last week briefed visiting Iranian President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jaishankar-meets-iranian-president-hassan-rouhani-discusses-progress-in-india-iran-bilateral-ties-269834">Hassan Rouhani</a> on Tokyo's plan to&nbsp;send&nbsp;naval forces to the Gulf.

The planned operation is set to cover high seas in the Gulf of Oman, the northern Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but not the Strait of Hormuz.

The&nbsp;Japanese government aims to start the operation of the patrol planes next month, while the destroyer will likely begin activities in the region in February, a defence ministry official said.

The government decision is effective for one year through December 26, 2020. A fresh cabinet approval is necessary to extend the armed force's activities in the&nbsp;Middle&nbsp;East.

A European operation to ensure safe shipping in the Gulf will also get underway next month when a French&nbsp;warship&nbsp;starts patrolling there.

Japan will send a warship and patrol planes to protect Japanese ships in the Middle East as the situation in the region, from which it sources nearly 90 per cent of its crude oil imports, remains volatile, Japan's top government spokesman said on Friday.

Japan will send a warship and patrol planes to protect Japanese ships in the Middle East as the situation in the region, from which it sources nearly 90 per cent of its crude oil imports, remains volatile, Japan's top government spokesman said on Friday. Under the plan approved by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet, a helicopter-equipped destroyer and two P-3C patrol planes will be dispatched for information-gathering aimed at ensuring safe passage for Japanese vessels through the region. If there are any emergencies, a special order would be issued by the Japanese defence minister to allow the forces to use weapons to protect ships in danger. "Peace and stability in the Middle East are extremely important for the peace and prosperity of the international community including Japan," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference. "Also, it is very important to make sure Japan-related ships can sail safely in the Middle East, the world's major source of energy." Friction between Iran and the United States has increased since last year, when US President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran and re-imposed sanctions on it, crippling its economy. In May and June, there were several attacks on international merchant vessels in the region, including the Japanese-owned tanker Kokuka Courageous, which the United States blamed on Iran. Tehran denies the accusations. Oil importers and refiners welcomed the government's decision. "The Middle East situation remains unpredictable. We believe the decision, made against this backdrop, will benefit the safe passage of ships in the region," Petroleum Association of Japan President Takashi Tsukioka said in a statement. Japan, a US ally that has maintained friendly ties with Iran, has opted to launch its own operation rather than join a US-led mission to protect shipping in the region. Abe last week briefed visiting Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tokyo's plan to send naval forces to the Gulf. The planned operation is set to cover high seas in the Gulf of Oman, the northern Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but not the Strait of Hormuz. The Japanese government aims to start the operation of the patrol planes next month, while the destroyer will likely begin activities in the region in February, a defence ministry official said. The government decision is effective for one year through December 26, 2020. A fresh cabinet approval is necessary to extend the armed force's activities in the Middle East. A European operation to ensure safe shipping in the Gulf will also get underway next month when a French warship starts patrolling there.

Japan to send warship, aircraft to Middle East to protect vessels

Egypt's former military chief-of-staff Sami Anan was released from detention on Sunday almost two years after his arrest following his plans to compete in the 2018 presidential election, his office manager said on Twitter.

Anan, now at home according to the manager, was held in a military prison until he suffered a stroke in July 2018 and was then moved to a military hospital in Cairo's Maadi suburb, where he remained until his release.

His health has improved, a source familiar with the matter said. The reason for his release is still unclear.

Anan, seen as Sisi's main challenger in that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypts-sisi-warns-opponents-as-calls-to-boycott-election-build-31393">election</a>, was arrested and halted his presidential bid after the military accused him of running for office without permission, which it said was a breach of military law. Anan's spokesman denied that he had broken any laws.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-sisi-protests-break-out-in-egypt-several-arrested-250950">al-Sisi</a> was re-elected for a second term in 2018, winning 97% of the vote with a turnout of 41%. The election featured only one other candidate, an ardent Sisi supporter, after opposition contenders halted their campaigns in January.

Egypt's former military chief-of-staff Sami Anan was released from detention on Sunday almost two years after his arrest following his plans to compete in the 2018 presidential election, his office manager said on Twitter.

Egypt's former military chief-of-staff Sami Anan was released from detention on Sunday almost two years after his arrest following his plans to compete in the 2018 presidential election, his office manager said on Twitter. Anan, now at home according to the manager, was held in a military prison until he suffered a stroke in July 2018 and was then moved to a military hospital in Cairo's Maadi suburb, where he remained until his release. His health has improved, a source familiar with the matter said. The reason for his release is still unclear. Anan, seen as Sisi's main challenger in that election, was arrested and halted his presidential bid after the military accused him of running for office without permission, which it said was a breach of military law. Anan's spokesman denied that he had broken any laws. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was re-elected for a second term in 2018, winning 97% of the vote with a turnout of 41%. The election featured only one other candidate, an ardent Sisi supporter, after opposition contenders halted their campaigns in January.

Egypt's ex-military chief of staff released after near two-year detention

Four cruise missiles were believed to have been launched across the coast through Lebanese airspace towards Syria, a source in the regional alliance supporting Syrian President Bashar <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrias-assad-says-he-does-not-want-turkey-as-an-enemy-259172">al-Assad</a> told Reuters.

Later the army said it had brought down one of the missiles in an area near the capital. It gave no further details and there was no immediate comment from Israel.

Israel has launched hundreds of missiles towards Syria in recent years, targeting Iranian-backed militias operating in the country as well as supplies sent by pro-Iranian Lebanese <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lebanese-army-clashes-with-supporters-of-hezbollah-amal-in-beirut-268624">Hezbollah</a> to support Assad's forces.

Iran and Hezbollah are fighting on the side of President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian war, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-carried-out-strikes-on-irans-quds-force-syrian-targets-israel-army-263308">Israel</a> says they are trying to turn Syria into a new front against Israelis.

Israel has vowed it will continue its strikes against Iranian targets trying to establish a permanent military presence there and against advanced weapons shipments to Hezbollah.

Four cruise missiles were believed to have been launched across the coast through Lebanese airspace towards Syria, a source in the regional alliance supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Reuters.

Four cruise missiles were believed to have been launched across the coast through Lebanese airspace towards Syria, a source in the regional alliance supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Reuters. Later the army said it had brought down one of the missiles in an area near the capital. It gave no further details and there was no immediate comment from Israel. Israel has launched hundreds of missiles towards Syria in recent years, targeting Iranian-backed militias operating in the country as well as supplies sent by pro-Iranian Lebanese Hezbollah to support Assad's forces. Iran and Hezbollah are fighting on the side of President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian war, and Israel says they are trying to turn Syria into a new front against Israelis. Israel has vowed it will continue its strikes against Iranian targets trying to establish a permanent military presence there and against advanced weapons shipments to Hezbollah.

Syrian air defense intercepts missiles from Israel: Report

A first-ever joint Chinese-Russian-Iranian naval exercise signals that closer Chinese military ties with a host of Middle Eastern nations does not translate into Chinese aspirations for a greater role in regional security any time soon.

If anything, the exercise, coupled with notional Chinese support for proposals for a multilateral security approach in the Gulf, suggests that China envisions a continued US lead in Gulf security despite the mounting rivalry between the world’s two largest economies.

That is the message China is sending by playing down the significance of the exercise and hinting that it would only contribute non-combat forces.

China’s participation is expected to involve its anti-piracy fleet that is already in Somali waters to protect commercial vessels as well as peacekeeping and humanitarian relief personnel rather than specially dispatched units of the People’s Liberation Army.

China’s preference for a continued US lead in maintaining Gulf security, even if it favours a more multilateral approach, was evident earlier this year in its willingness to consider participating in the US-led maritime alliance that escorts commercial vessels in the Gulf and seeks to secure shipping lanes and was created in response to several attacks on tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

So far, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Britain and Australia have joined the alliance that started operations last month.

Despite favouring a continued US lead, China sees a broadening of security arrangements that would embed rather than replace the US defence umbrella in the Gulf as a way to reduce regional tensions.

China also believes that a multilateral arrangement would allow it to continue steering clear of being sucked into conflicts and disputes in the Middle East, particularly the Saudi-Iranian rivalry.

A multilateral arrangement in which the US would remain the key military player would fit the pattern of China’s gradual projection beyond the borders of its growing military power.

With the exception of a military facility in Djibouti, China’s projection becomes less hardcore the further away one gets from the People’s Republic borders.

Proposals for a multilateral security architecture could also cater to US President Donald J Trump’s transactionalism as well as his insistence on burden-sharing.

Getting from A to B is, however, easier said than done.

If the US security umbrella was geared towards defence again Iran, a multi-lateral approach would have to involve Iran.

Such involvement could be based on some kind of agreement on non-aggression, a proposal put forward by Iran and implicit in Russia’s call for a regional security conference along the lines of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the OSCE.

To get there, however, the United States and Saudi Arabia would have to reduce tensions with Iran, credibly signal that they have no intention of toppling or destabilising the Iranian regime, and resolve the crisis stemming from the US withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program.

That would seem a tall order even if Saudi Arabia and Iran have not closed the door on stalled contacts aimed at dialling down tensions.

Chinese support has, moreover, so far lacked enthusiasm for a Russian proposal that calls the United States, Russia, China and India to be involved in a multilateral approach.

While backing Russia’s proposal in general terms, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang stopped short of specifically endorsing it. Geng welcomed, “All proposals and diplomatic efforts conducive to de-escalating the situation in the Gulf region.”

China’s refraining to more wholeheartedly endorse the Russian proposal is rooted in differing approaches towards multilateralism in general and alliances in particular. China shies away from alliances emphasising geo-economics rather than geopolitics while Russia still operates in terms of alliances.

Looming in the background is the fact that in the ultimate analysis China is likely to view security in South and Central Asia as interlinked with security in the Gulf, which in turn raises questions about the sustainability of the Chinese security approach.

The geographic layering of China’s approach is evident not only in China’s robust posture in the South China Sea, but also in countries like Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

China has recently made progress on the construction of a road through Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor. The road serves multiple geo-political goals.

It will facilitate the movement of troops, together with a military base in Tajikistan and Chinese cross border operations in the corridor.

The question is whether the Chinese moves will jeopardise the presumed division of labour between Russia and China under which Russia shoulders responsibility for security in Central Asia while China concentrates on economic development and if it does what impact that would have on Chinese reliance on a potential Russian role in the Gulf.

There is little doubt that the Gulf is gradually moving from a unilateral security arrangement to a multilateral one driven by Gulf concerns following the September attacks on Saudi oil facilities and a US response that has reinforced nagging doubts about the reliability of US security guarantees.

The doubts are further fed by the direction of US policy starting with the Obama administration and now with the Trump administration that suggests a re-evaluation of US national security interests in the Middle East.

China’s belief that economics rather than geopolitics is the key to solving disputes has so far allowed it to remain above the breach but has yet to prove its sustainability.

China’s approach is unlikely to shield it from the Middle East’s penchant of ensuring that it is at the heart of concerns of major external parties.

Said Jiang Xudong, a Middle East scholar at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences: “Economic investment will not solve all other problems when there are religious and ethnic conflicts.” 
 
 
(Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

A first-ever joint Chinese-Russian-Iranian naval exercise signals that closer Chinese military ties with a host of Middle Eastern nations does not translate into Chinese aspirations for a greater role in regional security any time soon.

A first-ever joint Chinese-Russian-Iranian naval exercise signals that closer Chinese military ties with a host of Middle Eastern nations does not translate into Chinese aspirations for a greater role in regional security any time soon. If anything, the exercise, coupled with notional Chinese support for proposals for a multilateral security approach in the Gulf, suggests that China envisions a continued US lead in Gulf security despite the mounting rivalry between the world’s two largest economies. That is the message China is sending by playing down the significance of the exercise and hinting that it would only contribute non-combat forces. China’s participation is expected to involve its anti-piracy fleet that is already in Somali waters to protect commercial vessels as well as peacekeeping and humanitarian relief personnel rather than specially dispatched units of the People’s Liberation Army. China’s preference for a continued US lead in maintaining Gulf security, even if it favours a more multilateral approach, was evident earlier this year in its willingness to consider participating in the US-led maritime alliance that escorts commercial vessels in the Gulf and seeks to secure shipping lanes and was created in response to several attacks on tankers in the Gulf of Oman. So far, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Britain and Australia have joined the alliance that started operations last month. Despite favouring a continued US lead, China sees a broadening of security arrangements that would embed rather than replace the US defence umbrella in the Gulf as a way to reduce regional tensions. China also believes that a multilateral arrangement would allow it to continue steering clear of being sucked into conflicts and disputes in the Middle East, particularly the Saudi-Iranian rivalry. A multilateral arrangement in which the US would remain the key military player would fit the pattern of China’s gradual projection beyond the borders of its growing military power. With the exception of a military facility in Djibouti, China’s projection becomes less hardcore the further away one gets from the People’s Republic borders. Proposals for a multilateral security architecture could also cater to US President Donald J Trump’s transactionalism as well as his insistence on burden-sharing. Getting from A to B is, however, easier said than done. If the US security umbrella was geared towards defence again Iran, a multi-lateral approach would have to involve Iran. Such involvement could be based on some kind of agreement on non-aggression, a proposal put forward by Iran and implicit in Russia’s call for a regional security conference along the lines of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the OSCE. To get there, however, the United States and Saudi Arabia would have to reduce tensions with Iran, credibly signal that they have no intention of toppling or destabilising the Iranian regime, and resolve the crisis stemming from the US withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program. That would seem a tall order even if Saudi Arabia and Iran have not closed the door on stalled contacts aimed at dialling down tensions. Chinese support has, moreover, so far lacked enthusiasm for a Russian proposal that calls the United States, Russia, China and India to be involved in a multilateral approach. While backing Russia’s proposal in general terms, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang stopped short of specifically endorsing it. Geng welcomed, “All proposals and diplomatic efforts conducive to de-escalating the situation in the Gulf region.” China’s refraining to more wholeheartedly endorse the Russian proposal is rooted in differing approaches towards multilateralism in general and alliances in particular. China shies away from alliances emphasising geo-economics rather than geopolitics while Russia still operates in terms of alliances. Looming in the background is the fact that in the ultimate analysis China is likely to view security in South and Central Asia as interlinked with security in the Gulf, which in turn raises questions about the sustainability of the Chinese security approach. The geographic layering of China’s approach is evident not only in China’s robust posture in the South China Sea, but also in countries like Tajikistan and Afghanistan. China has recently made progress on the construction of a road through Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor. The road serves multiple geo-political goals. It will facilitate the movement of troops, together with a military base in Tajikistan and Chinese cross border operations in the corridor. The question is whether the Chinese moves will jeopardise the presumed division of labour between Russia and China under which Russia shoulders responsibility for security in Central Asia while China concentrates on economic development and if it does what impact that would have on Chinese reliance on a potential Russian role in the Gulf. There is little doubt that the Gulf is gradually moving from a unilateral security arrangement to a multilateral one driven by Gulf concerns following the September attacks on Saudi oil facilities and a US response that has reinforced nagging doubts about the reliability of US security guarantees. The doubts are further fed by the direction of US policy starting with the Obama administration and now with the Trump administration that suggests a re-evaluation of US national security interests in the Middle East. China’s belief that economics rather than geopolitics is the key to solving disputes has so far allowed it to remain above the breach but has yet to prove its sustainability. China’s approach is unlikely to shield it from the Middle East’s penchant of ensuring that it is at the heart of concerns of major external parties. Said Jiang Xudong, a Middle East scholar at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences: “Economic investment will not solve all other problems when there are religious and ethnic conflicts.” (Views expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Gulf security: Here's why China wants the US to remain the key military player

Natural gas could well emerge as the litmus test of how relations among the Gulf’s energy-rich monarchies evolve if and when a Saudi-United Arab Emirates-led alliance and Qatar bury their hatchet.

It could also position Gulf states as key players in shaping the future of the energy architecture of Eurasia.

This week’s summit in Riyadh of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that groups Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain is likely to determine how close the kingdom and its allies are to lifting a 2.5-year-old diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar.

Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani suggested that secret Saudi-Qatari talks in recent weeks had “moved from a deadlock in the Gulf crisis to talks about a future vision regarding ties.” It was not immediately clear whether the UAE was equally willing to find a way out of the Gulf crisis.

The bellwether of how much progress has been made will be the level of Qatari representation at the Riyadh summit. Qatar emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has refrained from attending GCC summits since the boycott was imposed in June 2017 in a bid to force Qatar to fall in line with Saudi and UAE regional policies and effectively accept the two Gulf states’ tutelage.

An end to the boycott potentially could open the door to the creation of a regional gas network at a time that Qatar plans to increase its annual Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) production by a whopping 64 per cent to 126 million tons by 2027 and Saudi Arabia is investing up to USD$ 150 billion in becoming a major gas player.

The network would facilitate Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plans to streamline and diversify the kingdom’s economy. It would further enable Saudi Arabia to capitalize on the fact that Iran is hobbled by crippling US sanctions in its efforts to maintain its status as a key swing producer serving Eurasian markets.

Building a regional network may be easier said than done even if the Gulf states succeed in putting their debilitating dispute behind them. Healing the scars of the dispute that impacted people’s lives on both sides of the divide to the point where countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar would be willing to become dependent on one another is likely to take time.

That kind of trust didn’t exist even before the Gulf crisis. Saudi Arabia initially opposed the construction of the Dolphin gas pipeline, the region’s first cross-border gas project that links Qatar to the UAE and Oman.

Qatar continued to supply the UAE with two billion cubic feet of gas a day despite the boycott, which the Emirates would have found difficult to fully replace.

An end to the boycott would significantly enhance Saudi plans announced in early 2019 to establish a natural gas network with the UAE and Oman that eventually would extend to Kuwait, Bahrain Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and possibly Palestine.

Potential moves to enhance gas cooperation in the Gulf come as the eastern Mediterranean emerges as a potential competitor, particularly in future exports to Europe, Asia and China.

Huge gas finds in Israeli, Cypriot and Egyptian waters have seen industry eyes swivel to the Levant Basin, which, according to a 2010 estimate by the US Geological Survey, could hold as much as 122 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the equivalent of Iraq’s reserves.

Energy experts argue that Qatari gas could significantly help Prince Mohammed rationalize Saudi Arabia’s energy market at a time that climate change is casting doubts on the sustainability of oil.

The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center estimated that Saudi Arabia burned some 900,000 barrels per day of liquid fuels for industrial use and power generation in 2017.

“Replacing this oil with natural gas could generate more than U$10 billion of additional export revenue at current market prices… Qatar is one of the cheapest ways for the kingdom to remove oil entirely from power generation,” said Andy Critchlow, head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa at S&amp;P Global Platts.

While Qatar may be willing to assist Saudi Arabia once the boycott is lifted, it is certain to ensure that it does not become dependent on gas exports to the kingdom.

Diversification of its gas exports is a pillar of Qatar’s soft power strategy that helped shield it from the effects of the boycott.

Some Qatari officials have long believed that gaining control of Qatari gas reserves was the main objective of the Saudi-UAE boycott.

As a result, Qatar is likely to be weary of plans by Saudi Arabia to become a global gas player. The kingdom holds the world’s fourth-largest gas reserves that it so far has been unable to develop.

Amin H. Nasser, CEO of Aramco, the Saudi national oil company, said earlier this year that he expected the kingdom to massively invest in the Saudi gas sector over the next ten years. Mr. Nasser envisioned gas production increasing from 14 billion standard cubic feet to 23 billion by 2030.

“We are looking to shift from only satisfying our utility industry in the kingdom, which will happen especially with the increase in renewable and nuclear to be an exporter of gas and gas products,” Mr. Nasser said.

Qatar laid down its marker a year ago when it decided to leave OPEC, the cartel of oil-exporting countries, to focus on its gas exports.

Speaking at the time, Qatari energy minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, articulated what is likely to shape the Gulf state’s policy even if the boycott is lifted.

“We are not saying we are going to get out of the oil business, but it is controlled by an organisation managed by a country,” Mr. Al-Kaabi said.

Qatar, he said, was unwilling “to put efforts and resources and time in an organisation that we are a very small player in, and I don’t have a say in what happens.”

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; 
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Natural gas could well emerge as the litmus test of how relations among the Gulf’s energy-rich monarchies evolve if and when a Saudi-United Arab Emirates-led alliance and Qatar bury their hatchet.

Natural gas could well emerge as the litmus test of how relations among the Gulf’s energy-rich monarchies evolve if and when a Saudi-United Arab Emirates-led alliance and Qatar bury their hatchet. It could also position Gulf states as key players in shaping the future of the energy architecture of Eurasia. This week’s summit in Riyadh of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that groups Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain is likely to determine how close the kingdom and its allies are to lifting a 2.5-year-old diplomatic and economic boycott of Qatar. Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani suggested that secret Saudi-Qatari talks in recent weeks had “moved from a deadlock in the Gulf crisis to talks about a future vision regarding ties.” It was not immediately clear whether the UAE was equally willing to find a way out of the Gulf crisis. The bellwether of how much progress has been made will be the level of Qatari representation at the Riyadh summit. Qatar emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has refrained from attending GCC summits since the boycott was imposed in June 2017 in a bid to force Qatar to fall in line with Saudi and UAE regional policies and effectively accept the two Gulf states’ tutelage. An end to the boycott potentially could open the door to the creation of a regional gas network at a time that Qatar plans to increase its annual Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) production by a whopping 64 per cent to 126 million tons by 2027 and Saudi Arabia is investing up to USD$ 150 billion in becoming a major gas player. The network would facilitate Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plans to streamline and diversify the kingdom’s economy. It would further enable Saudi Arabia to capitalize on the fact that Iran is hobbled by crippling US sanctions in its efforts to maintain its status as a key swing producer serving Eurasian markets. Building a regional network may be easier said than done even if the Gulf states succeed in putting their debilitating dispute behind them. Healing the scars of the dispute that impacted people’s lives on both sides of the divide to the point where countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar would be willing to become dependent on one another is likely to take time. That kind of trust didn’t exist even before the Gulf crisis. Saudi Arabia initially opposed the construction of the Dolphin gas pipeline, the region’s first cross-border gas project that links Qatar to the UAE and Oman. Qatar continued to supply the UAE with two billion cubic feet of gas a day despite the boycott, which the Emirates would have found difficult to fully replace. An end to the boycott would significantly enhance Saudi plans announced in early 2019 to establish a natural gas network with the UAE and Oman that eventually would extend to Kuwait, Bahrain Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and possibly Palestine. Potential moves to enhance gas cooperation in the Gulf come as the eastern Mediterranean emerges as a potential competitor, particularly in future exports to Europe, Asia and China. Huge gas finds in Israeli, Cypriot and Egyptian waters have seen industry eyes swivel to the Levant Basin, which, according to a 2010 estimate by the US Geological Survey, could hold as much as 122 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the equivalent of Iraq’s reserves. Energy experts argue that Qatari gas could significantly help Prince Mohammed rationalize Saudi Arabia’s energy market at a time that climate change is casting doubts on the sustainability of oil. The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center estimated that Saudi Arabia burned some 900,000 barrels per day of liquid fuels for industrial use and power generation in 2017. “Replacing this oil with natural gas could generate more than U$10 billion of additional export revenue at current market prices… Qatar is one of the cheapest ways for the kingdom to remove oil entirely from power generation,” said Andy Critchlow, head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa at S&P Global Platts. While Qatar may be willing to assist Saudi Arabia once the boycott is lifted, it is certain to ensure that it does not become dependent on gas exports to the kingdom. Diversification of its gas exports is a pillar of Qatar’s soft power strategy that helped shield it from the effects of the boycott. Some Qatari officials have long believed that gaining control of Qatari gas reserves was the main objective of the Saudi-UAE boycott. As a result, Qatar is likely to be weary of plans by Saudi Arabia to become a global gas player. The kingdom holds the world’s fourth-largest gas reserves that it so far has been unable to develop. Amin H. Nasser, CEO of Aramco, the Saudi national oil company, said earlier this year that he expected the kingdom to massively invest in the Saudi gas sector over the next ten years. Mr. Nasser envisioned gas production increasing from 14 billion standard cubic feet to 23 billion by 2030. “We are looking to shift from only satisfying our utility industry in the kingdom, which will happen especially with the increase in renewable and nuclear to be an exporter of gas and gas products,” Mr. Nasser said. Qatar laid down its marker a year ago when it decided to leave OPEC, the cartel of oil-exporting countries, to focus on its gas exports. Speaking at the time, Qatari energy minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, articulated what is likely to shape the Gulf state’s policy even if the boycott is lifted. “We are not saying we are going to get out of the oil business, but it is controlled by an organisation managed by a country,” Mr. Al-Kaabi said. Qatar, he said, was unwilling “to put efforts and resources and time in an organisation that we are a very small player in, and I don’t have a say in what happens.” (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Natural gas frames future Gulf relations

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