DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian officials reached out to the wider Middle East on Wednesday over the threat of a possible U.S. military strike on the country, while the value of Iran’s currency reached a new low a month since the start of protests that spread nationwide and sparked a bloody crackdown.

Iran has warned it could wipe out US forces in the Middle East. The threat comes amid Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington. The United States has vowed not to back down, while Iran has deployed hundreds of drones and positioned missiles across the region.

NEW YORK] Oil prices gained about 1 per cent on Wednesday, as investors worried about escalating tensions between Iran and the US, which were preparing to resume negotiations, while a weekly report

F-35A stealth fighters from the Vermont Air National Guard (VANG) are edging nearer to potential deployments to the Middle East. The movement of these aircraft comes as the U.S. is building up a large force in the U.S. Central Command region ahead of a possible conflict with Iran.