Tensions between the U.S. and Iran rose Monday after the Obama Administration quietly increased the capability of land and sea-based missile defenses in several Gulf nations to protect American allies against a potential Iranian strike.

Administration officials said over the weekend that the U.S. was speeding up arms sales to a number of Gulf Arab states and that it had also deployed warships capable of knocking down hostile missiles in flight to the region.

The moves, which include the sales of anti-missile systems to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, are designed to deter Iran from launching attacks against its Sunni Muslim neighbors and to send a message to Israel that a preemptive strike against Iran is unnecessary.

The deployments come as President Obama enters a new phase in efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear program after the failure of a diplomatic offensive. Washington is anxious to get a tough new round of U.N. sanctions against Tehran, something that China and Russia have shown little interest in backing.

Source/Full Story: FOXNews.com

Related Items

• Caterpillar moves to cut links with Iran
  Caterpillar, the US building equipment group, has become the latest company to bow to a lobbyists’ “name and shame” campaign by announcing steps to se...
• Iranian president warns against tougher sanctions
  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned the United States and other nations Tuesday not to impose tougher sanctions in reaction to the Islamic co...
• Arab states have launched secret moves with China, Russia and France to stop using the US currency for oil trading
  As the professor used to ask, "what is the significance of the event?"In the most profound financial change in recent Middle East history, Gulf Arabs ...
• U.S., World Powers Go to the Table With Tehran
  In a key meeting that may determine the future of Iran's nuclear ambitions, the U.S. and five other world powers went to the table with Tehran on Thur...
• Brzezinski: How Obama Flubbed His Missile Message
  Brzezinski, who was considered a hawk in the Carter administration and was often touted by Democratic politicians as the party’s response to Henry Kis...