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.

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

A confrontation between Washington and Tehran over the US killing of a top general and turmoil in Libya are set to dominate talks in Moscow on Saturday between the leaders of Russia and Germany.

Libya and Iran top agenda in Merkel-Putin meeting

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister, Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud said on Monday the kingdom does not want to see a further escalation of tensions in the region at a "very dangerous moment", following Friday's killing by a US drone strike of Iran's most prominent military commander and Quds force head, Qasem Soleimani.

Saudi Arabia appeals for 'calm' after killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani

Protestors clashed with police in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Sunday, as thousands of demonstrators attempted to march toward the US consulate to protest the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani.

Pakistan: Thousands march toward US consulate to protest Soleimani's killing

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that Turkey will put in efforts to de-escalate tensions between Iran and the United States and had been in contact with both parties after the US forces killed the Iranian military commander the previous week.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu: Turkey in touch to ease tensions between with Iran and US