The Middle East

Mines both inside and outside the Gulf have been the focus of attention as the third convoy of US-escorted reflagged tankers makes its way up the Gulf. They pose an immediate threat to shipping, but a longer term and potentially far more serious danger is that if the current UN peace initiative bogs down the Iraqis may resume air attacks on Iranian shipping, touching off a confrontation between Iran and the US. Meanwhile Iranian and Saudi tempers appear to be cooling...