The United States has dispatched its top officials across Europe and the Middle East to build consensus on its tough stance on Iran.
Diplomats were sent to Geneva, Jerusalem and in Brussels to discuss recent tensions between Iran with its Gulf neighbours and the US, but some US allies remained sceptical.
Acting US Defence Secretary Mark Esper flew to Brussels on Tuesday to persuade Nato allies to work with Washington on Iran sanctions and security in the Middle East.
Ahead of his arrival, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the “the important thing now is to reduce tensions”.
Mr Stoletenberg said Nato members “are concerned about the situation in the Gulf and we are also concerned about Iran’s destabilising activities in the region”.
France, Germany and the UK are all still signatories to a 2015 nuclear deal from which Mr Trump withdrew last year.
Europe’s attempt to circumnavigate US sanctions on Iran has infuriated Washington, although all countries agree on the need to counter Iranian aggression.
In Jerusalem, meeting with Russian and Israeli officials, National Security Adviser John Bolton said that new US sanctions against Iran would bring them to the negotiating table, but warned that "all options remain on the table" if Iran breaches its nuclear deal commitments.
While in Geneva, US disarmament ambassador Robert Wood said the Trump administration had shown great restraint in the wake of the shooting down of a US drone, which, he said, should not be mistaken for weakness.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said that an attack by Iran on US interests would trigger an "overwhelming" response.
Mr Trump tweeted that "any attack by Iran on anything American will be met with great and overwhelming force. In some areas, overwhelming will mean obliteration".
British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said he could not envisage any situation where the UK would join a US-led war with Iran, although he shared concerns about Iran's malevolence.
"The US is our closest ally,” he said. “We talk to them the whole time but I cannot envisage any situation where they request, or we agree to, any moves to go to war.
"Neither side wants war, but it is very important for there to be ladders for people to climb down so discussions can take place."
Mr Hunt also said that Iran would ultimately have to stop "destabilising activities”.
Meanwhile, another key US ally, Japan, responded to a tweet by Mr Trump that questioned US protection of shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, which Mr Trump said Japan gains a lot from.
“We are seriously concerned about rising tensions in the Middle East,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.
“In particular, the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is a matter of life and death for our country in terms of energy security.”
He added that Japan would continue diplomatic efforts in close co-operation with the US and other countries.
The flurry of diplomacy comes following a one-day tour of the UAE and Saudi Arabia by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
During his visits to Jeddah and Abu Dhabi, Mr Pompeo met Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, as well as Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Mr Pompeo's trip to the region focused on maritime security, which he said was "paramount".
The specs
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Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
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Mane points for safe home colouring
- Natural and grey hair takes colour differently than chemically treated hair
- Taking hair from a dark to a light colour should involve a slow transition through warmer stages of colour
- When choosing a colour (especially a lighter tone), allow for a natural lift of warmth
- Most modern hair colours are technique-based, in that they require a confident hand and taught skills
- If you decide to be brave and go for it, seek professional advice and use a semi-permanent colour
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
