Saudi Arabia has protested to the UN about alleged interception of a Saudi Aramco vessel by the Iranian navy, and invasion of its air space by Iran above its gas fields. Iran has confirmed shooting at a US drone it says was spying on its oil tankers as they passed an island it disputes with the UAE. Adding to the tension, Iran’s military launched war exercises this week in the Gulf.

Iran has confirmed the Pentagon’s allegation that an Iranian warplane opened fire in early November on an unarmed MQ-1 Predator drone conducting surveillance. This is the first such incident in the Gulf. The plane was unharmed. (CONTINUED - 307 WORDS)