Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said on Tuesday that two oil-pumping stations for the East-West pipeline had been hit by explosive-laden drones, calling the attack “an act of terrorism” that targeted global oil supplies. Al-Falih said that Saudi oil output and exports for crude and refined products were continuing without disruption. Houthi-run Masirah TV earlier on Tuesday cited a military official saying the Houthis had launched drone attacks on “vital Saudi installations”. A number of commercial ships and oil tankers were sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf this week, with many countries condemning the incidents and expressing worries as the region’s stock markets plummeted after the attacks. Al-Falih released a statement on Monday saying that “two Saudi oil tankers were attacked near the emirate of Fujairah as they were about to cross the Arabian Gulf.” The attacks did not lead to any casualties or an oil spill but caused “significant damage to the vessels”, he said. Al-Falih added that “one of the two vessels was on its way to be loaded with Saudi crude oil from the port of Ras Tanura to be delivered to Saudi Aramco’s customers in the United States.” The attacks took place one day after the UAE announced four commercial vessels had been “sabotaged” near Fujairah 115km from Iran. A UAE Foreign Ministry statement said the four ships were “civilian commercial ship of various nationalities”. A Norwegian cargo company said one of its ships was sabotaged, adding that an unidentified body had created a hole in one of its oil tankers. The Foreign Ministry called the incidents “worrisome” and said there would be an investigation. Meanwhile, the UAE dismissed reports of bombings in Fujairah as “baseless”, adding that port operations had continued as usual. But many countries are concerned that details of the attacks have not been revealed. Spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Abbas Mousavi said “the Sunday incidents on several vessels in the Sea of Oman were alarming and regrettable.” He “warned against plots by ill-wishers wanting to disrupt regional security” and called for “the vigilance of regional states in the face of adventurism by foreign elements”. Egypt and Jordan condemned the attacks, and a high-level official in the Pentagon said US units were aiding UAE military authorities investigating the “sabotage” incidents. Tensions heightened in the Gulf after the US sent B-52 bombers to the Middle East to counter “clear indications” of threats from Iran. In a sign of concern at the rising tensions, UK Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt warned of the risks of “a conflict happening by accident” with unintended escalation between Washington and Tehran over the unravelling Iran nuclear deal. Hunt said he would “share Britain’s concerns with Germany and France and with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo” who was in Brussels on Monday for talks on Iran. Meanwhile, Riyadh’s stock market, the largest in the region, fell by 2.7 per cent in the wake of the attacks. Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s stock exchanges dropped by 3.7 per cent and 2.5 per cent, respectively. Qatar recorded a 2.1 per cent drop, and there was a 1.25 per cent in Kuwait, a 0.16 per cent drop in Amman, and a 0.6 per cent drop in Bahrain. *A version of this article appears in print in the 16 May, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Heightened tensions in the Gulf

Iran s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that "there is not going to be any war" with the United States, his official website reported. In a speech to state officials, Khamenei said the showdown between the Islamic republic and the United States was a test of resolve rather than a military encounter.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shared information on escalating threats from Iran with European allies and NATO officials during meetings in Brussels on Monday, the U.S. special representative for Iran said. “Iran is an escalating threat and this seemed like a timely visit on his way to Sochi,” Brian Hook told reporters, referring to Pompeo’s planned visit to Russia on Tuesday for meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Pompeo canceled a visit to Moscow on Monday and stopped in Brussels instead, en route to Sochi. “The secretary wanted to share some details behind what we have been saying publicly,” Hook said. “We believe that Iran should try talks instead of threats. They have chosen poorly by focusing on threats.” Hook said Pompeo, while in Brussels, also discussed reported attacks on several oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Asked if Pompeo was blaming Iran for the attacks, Hook said: “We discussed ... what seemed to be attacks on commercial vessels that were anchored off Fujairah ... we have been requested by the UAE to provide assistance in the investigation, which we are very glad to do.” Asked if he himself believed there was the possibility of an Iranian role, Hook had no comment. The UAE said on Sunday that four commercial vessels were sabotaged near Fujairah emirate, one of the world’s largest bunkering hubs lying just outside the Strait of Hormuz. It did not describe the nature of the attack or say who was behind it. Saudi Arabia said Monday that two of its oil tankers were among those attacked and described it as an attempt to undermine the security of crude supplies amid tensions between the United States and Iran. The UAE on Monday identified the vessels as very large crude carrier (VLCC) tanker Amjad and crude tanker Al Marzoqah, both owned by Saudi shipping firm Bahri. The other two were UAE-flagged fuel bunker barge A. Michel and Norwegian-registered oil products tanker MT Andrew Victory

Saudi Arabia said on Monday that two Saudi oil tankers were attacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, condemning it as an attempt to undermine the security of crude supplies amid heightened U.S.-Iranian tensions. The UAE said on Sunday that four commercial vessels were sabotaged near Fujairah emirate, one of the world s largest bunkering hubs lying just outside the Strait of Hormuz, but did not say who was behind the attack or describe the nature of it. Iran, embroiled in an escalating war of words with the United States over sanctions and the U.S. military s presence in the region, moved on Monday to distance itself. The foreign ministry called the incidents "worrisome and dreadful" and asked for an investigation into the matter. A senior Iranian lawmaker said "saboteurs from a third country" could be behind it, after saying on Sunday that the incident showed that the security of Gulf states is fragile. In a sign of concern about rising tensions, Britain s Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt warned of the risks of "a conflict happening by accident" with an unintended escalation between Washington and Tehran over an unravelling nuclear deal. A fifth of global oil consumption passes through the Strait from Middle East crude producers to major markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond. Iran s Revolutionary Guards, which has been designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, threatened last month to close the chokepoint if Tehran is barred from using it. Oil prices rose on Monday, with Brent crude futures trading up 1.1% at $71.77 a barrel at 0906 GMT. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said in a statement that one of the two Saudi vessels attacked was on its way to be loaded with Saudi crude from Ras Tanura port for delivery to state-owned Saudi Aramco s customers in the United States. The attack did not lead to any casualties or an oil spill but caused significant damage to the vessels structures, he said. INTERTANKO, an association of independent tanker owners and operators, said in a note that it has seen photos showing that "at least two ships have holes in their sides due to the impact of a weapon". Trading and shipping sources identified the Saudi vessels as Bahri-owned very large crude carrier (VLCC) tanker Amjad and crude tanker Al Marzoqah. Bahri did not respond to a request for comment. The UAE foreign ministry has said there were no casualties and the Fujairah port operations were normal. An investigation had been launched in coordination with international authorities, it said, calling on global powers to prevent any parties trying to harm maritime safety and security. Saudi Arabia s foreign ministry in a separate statement voiced support for the UAE, the Middle East s trade and business hub. Gulf stock markets fell on Monday, with Dubai down 2.6% and the Saudi index down over 2%. Escalating tensions Sunni Muslim allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE have strongly backed U.S. sanctions against fellow OPEC producer and regional foe Shia Iran. After the United States ended all sanctions waivers on Iranian crude, Washington said Riyadh and Abu Dhabi would help compensate for any shortage in oil supply. Falih said the attack aimed to undermine maritime freedom and the security of oil supplies to consumers worldwide. "The international community has a joint responsibility to protect the safety of maritime navigation and the security of oil tankers, to mitigate against the adverse consequences of such incidents on energy markets and the danger they pose to the global economy," he said. Iran s foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi was cited by the semi-official ISNA news agency as saying the incident "has a negative impact on maritime transportation security" and asked regional countries to be "vigilant against destabilising plots of foreign agents". The U.S. Maritime Administration said in an advisory on Sunday the incidents off Fujairah, one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, have not been confirmed and urged caution. Earlier this month, the Maritime Administration said U.S. commercial ships including oil tankers sailing through Middle East waterways could be targeted by Iran in one of the threats to U.S. interests posed by Tehran. Washington said it was sending a U.S. aircraft carrier and other forces to the Middle East due to what it said were Iranian threats, while Tehran has called the U.S. military presence "a target" rather than a threat. U.S. President Donald Trump s government has been ratcheting up pressure on Iran with sanctions since Washington withdrew a year ago from a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers. Washington tightened sanctions on Iran this month, eliminating waivers that had allowed some countries to buy its oil, saying it wanted to cut Tehran’s crude exports to zero. Iran has said it will not let its oil exports be halted.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are likely to meet during a G20 summit in Japan at the end of June and discuss trade, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Sunday. “Let me repeat again the strong possibility that the two presidents will meet in Japan at G20,” Kudlow told Fox News Sunday, adding that there were no other fresh talks scheduled between Beijing and Washington for now. The United States escalated a tariff war with China on Friday by hiking levies on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods after Trump said Beijing “broke the deal” by reneging on earlier commitments made during months of negotiations.

The Egyptian cabinet said in a statement on Thursday that American aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has passed through Egypt s Suez Canal; the White House said earlier this week that the deployment is in response to troubling “indications and warnings” from Iran. The movement of the warship was observed by US Major General Ralph Groover, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché at the US embassy in Cairo, "who came specially to check up on the safe passage" of the US carrier, the cabinet said.

Iran announced on Wednesday it was relaxing some curbs to its nuclear program, announcing steps that stop short of violating its 2015 deal with world powers for now, but threatening more action if countries do not shield it from U.S. sanctions. Hours later, the United States said it was not finished imposing sanctions on Iran and planned more “very soon”. It warned Europe against doing business with Tehran via a system of non-dollar trade to circumvent U.S. sanctions.

China said Tuesday its top trade negotiator will visit the United States for talks with American counterparts this week even as Washington stepped up pressure with plans to hike tariffs and complaints that Beijing was backtracking on its commitments. The commerce ministry confirmed in a brief statement that Vice Premier Liu He, President Xi Jinping s trade pointman, would visit the US on Thursday and Friday.

The United States is sending an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East in a "clear and unmistakable" message to Iran, National Security Advisor John Bolton said Sunday. "In response to a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings, the United States is deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force to the US Central Command region," Bolton said in a statement.

Prime Minister Theresa May could reach a Brexit deal with the opposition Labour Party within days, a leading Conservative Party figure said on Saturday, after senior ministers urged compromise following poor local election results. Ruth Davidson, the Conservatives leader in Scotland, told party members that a cross-partisan agreement on Brexit was needed before this month s European elections, or Britain s major parties would face an even bigger backlash from voters.

India has accelerated efforts to evacuate more than a million people along its northeast coastline as a cyclone intensifies ahead of landfall on Friday, with thousand of villagers piling household possessions on to trucks before fleeing their homes. Severe cyclonic storm Fani was churning up the Bay of Bengal about 275 km (171 miles) south-southwest of the Hindu temple town of Puri where special trains were put on to evacuate tourists and the beaches were empty.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the administration of President Donald Trump was prepared to take military action to stem the crisis in Venezuela. "The president has been crystal clear and incredibly consistent. Military action is possible. If thats whats required, thats what the United States will do," Pompeo said on Fox Business Network.

Afghanistan s president opened a grand council on Monday of more than 3,200 Afghans seeking to agree on a common approach to peace talks with the Taliban, but the gathering may further aggravate divisions within the U.S.-backed government. President Ashraf Ghani hopes to showcase unity at the four-day meeting — known as Loya Jirga — that brings together politicians, tribal elders, many prominent figures and others.

Sudan s ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) warned on Monday against protesters blocking roads and limiting the movement of citizens as protests continued after president Omar al-Bashir was forced from power. The TMC also said it was unacceptable that some young people were exercising the role of the police and security services, in violation of the law, a reference to youths who have been searching protesters taking part in a sit-in outside the Defense Ministry.

When North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin for their first one-on-one meeting, he will have a long wish list and a strong desire to notch a win after the failure of his second summit with President Donald Trump. But it s not entirely clear how much Putin can or will oblige. Despite a relationship that goes back to the very foundation of North Korea, relations between Pyongyang and Moscow haven t always been the picture of comradery, or even particularly close.

Tensions escalated in Sudan on Monday after talks broke down between protesters and the country s military rulers, who called for the reopening of roads blocked by sit-ins established during the uprising that drove President Omar al-Bashir from power. The protesters, who have been rallying outside the military headquarters in Khartoum since April 6, have demanded a swift handover of power to civilians. A military council has ruled since al-Bashir was forced from office on April 11 after nearly four months of mass protests against his 30-year rule.

The UN s Libya envoy warned Thursday of "a widening conflagration" in the North African country, saying international divisions had encouraged strongman Khalifa Haftar to launch his assault on Tripoli. But for now, Ghassan Salame told AFP in an interview, there was "deadlock" in fighting south of the capital between Haftar s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) and the internationally recognised government.

The U.N. Security Council is considering a British-drafted resolution that would demand a ceasefire in Libya and call on all countries with influence over the warring parties to ensure compliance. Diplomats from the 15-member council are due to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the text that also calls for unconditional humanitarian aid access in Libya, which has been gripped by anarchy and conflict since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011.

Nations expressed solidarity with France after the fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral and offered their support for the recovery. Monday s fire collapsed the spire and burned through the roof of the 12th-century building, sparking an outpouring of grief and reminiscing of visits to the Parisian landmark. President Donald Trump called the cathedral "one of the great treasures of the world.

Sudanese protest organisers Monday called on their supporters to mobilise outside the army headquarters, saying there was an attempt to "disperse the sit-in" where thousands have camped out for 10 days. The Sudanese Professionals Association did not say who was attempting to break up the crowd, but witnesses said several army vehicles had surrounded the area.