Gulf tensions rise as US shoots down Iranian drone  Tensions in the Gulf region mounted on Thursday as US President Donald Trump said an American naval vessel shot down an Iranian drone that threatened the ship as it was entering the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's top diplomat warns US is 'playing with fire' Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned on Monday that the United States is "playing with fire," echoing remarks by President Donald Trump as the two sides are locked in a standoff over Tehran's nuclear program.

European powers urge dialogue, end to escalation in Iran nuclear crisis European powers urge dialogue, end to escalation in Iran nuclear crisis

Trump threatens to up sanctions as Iran reportedly tries to seize tanker US President Donald Trump warned Tehran on Wednesday that sanctions would soon be "increased substantially," as armed Iranian boats reportedly attempted to seize a British oil tanker in Gulf waters.

US puts Hezbollah lawmakers on sanctions blacklist for first time The US Treasury placed two Hezbollah members of Lebanon's parliament on its sanctions blacklist on Tuesday -- the first time Washington has taken aim at the Iran-allied group's elected politicians.

Iran condemns detention of oil supertanker in Gibraltar Iran on Thursday condemned the "illegal interception" of one of its oil tankers in Gibraltar where authorities said they suspected it was carrying crude to Syria in violation of EU sanctions.

EU, France, Germany and UK urge Iran to reverse uranium decision The diplomatic chiefs of the EU, France, Germany and Britain said Tuesday they were "extremely concerned" and urged Iran to reverse its decision to breach a limit on enriched uranium reserves under a 2015 nuclear deal.

Trump says Iran 'playing with fire' after nuclear deal limit breached US President Donald Trump warned on Monday that Iran is "playing with fire" after Tehran said it exceeded a limit on enriched uranium reserves under a 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by Washington.

Iran and US trade barbs ahead of new sanctions

The United States on Monday was due to tighten sanctions on Iran as the two countries traded barbs in a tense standoff sparked by Washington's withdrawal from a nuclear deal.

US piles pressure on Iran with troop deployment, new photos The United States ratcheted up pressure on Iran Monday, announcing the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to the Middle East and producing new photographs it said showed Tehran was behind an attack on a tanker ship.