Iran’s foreign minister has reiterated that his country does not seek an escalation in the Middle East but reserves the right to defend itself against Israel’s attack with a “measured and calculative” response.

Gaza The US has completed a deployment of B-52 bombers and F-15E fighter-bombers to the Middle East, while additional warships are en route to the region, ahead of the next expected flare-up of violence between Iran and Israel.

Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist who once worked for a U.S. government-funded broadcaster, is believed to have been detained by Iran for months now, authorities said Sunday, further raising the stakes as Tehran threatens to retaliate over an Israeli attack on the country.