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The chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee has called for long-range ballistics, citing concerns about Iran and North Korea. Both countries have released statements claiming to only be preparing to act in self-defense.

Rep. Mark Thornberry (R-Texas) told reporters that the US should expand its ballistics arsenal to include long-range missiles that could reach Iran or North Korea. "If you look at what's happening around the world, I would mention Iran and North Korea, the importance of missile defense is increasing," Thornberry said Monday.

"Actors around the world are building missiles that are harder to stop," he added.

On Friday, the White House announced new sanctions on Iran and put Tehran on notice after running a ballistics test.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif took to Twitter to respond to allegations of aggression from President Donald Trump. He said that Iran would never use its weapons for anything other than defense, adding: Let us see if any of those who complain can make the same statement.

Senior cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami took a different stance, responding: We are living in a world of wolves. Wolves such as the arrogant government of America. In this world of wolves, should we remain unarmed and they do whatever damn things they want? No way. This will never happen, Euronews reported.

Mojtaba Zonour, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian parliament, was seemingly on the same page as Ayatollah Khatami, saying on Saturday that they could raze the US Navy base in Bahrain. Only seven minutes are needed for the Iranian missile to hit Tel Aviv, he said.

Also on Friday, North Korea released a statement claiming to be on the brink of nuclear war. The statement accused the US and South Korea of teaming up for a pre-emptive strike against North Korea CNN reported. That same weekend, US Defense Secretary James Mattis visited South Korea, where he reaffirmed Washingtons support for Seoul and pledged the $800 million Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) to protect US and South Korean troops.

Mattis said the US and Seoul would stand shoulder-to-shoulder and any attack from North Korea would be met with overwhelming response.

Thornberrys announcement is seen as a sign of support for President Donald Trumps plans to beef up US military forces. The National Defense Authorization Act is up for a vote at the end of April, but Thornberry said the defense appropriations bill may be voted on later than usual.

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House Armed Services chair says US needs missiles that can reach Iran, N Korea - RT

Speaking in London as he met British Prime Minister Theresa May, Netanyahu said Iran sought to "conquer the Middle East" and had to be reined in.

Iran "seeks to conquer the Middle East, it threatens Europe, it threatens the West, it threatens the world. And it offers provocation after provocation," Netanyahu said.

Addressing May, Netanyahu added: "That's why I welcome President Trump's insistence on new sanctions against Iran. I think other nations should follow suit, certainly responsible nations, and I'd like to talk to you about how we can ensure Iran's aggression does not go unanswered."

Iran denies the January 29 test violated a UN resolution, saying that it had a right to carry out such exercises in defense of its country.

Netanyahu has been staunchly opposed to a nuclear deal with Iran, brokered by the Obama administration, that saw sanctions on the country relaxed in exchange for a dramatic downsizing of Iran's nuclear program. The Israeli leader has called the accord "weak."

A Downing Street spokesperson said that Britain shared concerns about Iran's missile test.

"It was discussed at the UN and we made clear our position. With regard to the specific agreement relating to the nuclear weapons ... it's important that it is very carefully and rigorously policed. We should also be clear that it has neutralized the possibility of the Iranians acquiring nuclear weapons for more than a decade."

May reiterated Britain's commitment to a two-state solution to Netanyahu. "It's the best way to building stability and peace and prosperity for the future," May said.

Israel plans to build more than 5,000 new homes in the West Bank, in Israel's first major construction plans in 20 years.

Netanyahu's meeting with May comes just hours before Israel's parliament looks set to vote on a bill to retroactively legalize thousands of settler homes in the West Bank.

The settlement program is illegal under international law, but Israel disputes that finding and insists the status of the West Bank is more ambiguous than international law allows.

Also on the agenda for the meeting is the Syrian conflict, cybersecurity and trade.

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Netanyahu calls on 'responsible nations' to sanction Iran - CNN

DUBAI Iran said on Monday a recent missile trial launch was not intended to send a message to new U.S. President Donald Trump and to test him, since after a series of policy statements Iranian officials already "know him quite well".

Iran test-fired a new ballistic missile last week, prompting Washington to impose some new sanctions on Tehran. Trump tweeted that Tehran, which has cut back its nuclear program under a 2015 deal with world powers easing economic sanctions, was "playing with fire".

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted by Tasnim news agency as saying: "Iran's missile test was not a message to the new U.S. government.

"There is no need to test Mr Trump as we have heard his views on different issues in recent days... We know him quite well."

Iran has test-fired several ballistic missiles since the 2015 deal, but the latest test on January 29 was the first since Trump entered the White House. Trump said during his election campaign that he would stop Iran's missile program.

Qasemi said The U.S. government was "still in an unstable stage" and Trump's comments were "contradictory".

"We are waiting to see how the U.S. government will act in different international issues to evaluate their approach."

Despite heated words between Tehran and Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Saturday he was not considering strengthening U.S. forces in the Middle East to address Iran's "misbehavior".

Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted on Monday that the U.S. government "should de-escalate regional tension not adding to it", and Washington should "interact with Iran" rather than challenging it.

Iran announced on Saturday that it will issue visas for a U.S. wrestling team to attend the Freestyle World Cup competition, reversing a decision to ban visas for the team in retaliation for an executive order by Trump banning visas for Iranians.

(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; editing by Ralph Boulton)

MOSCOW The Kremlin said on Monday it wanted an apology from Fox News over what it said were "unacceptable" comments one of the channel's presenters made about Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.

BEIJING China on Monday welcomed U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' suggestion that diplomacy should be the priority in the South China Sea, and that major U.S. military action was not being considered to contend with China's assertive behavior there.

BEIRUT Syria's army and its allies advanced towards the northern Islamic-State held city of al-Bab on Monday, cutting off the last main supply route that connects to militant strongholds further east towards Iraq, a monitor said.

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Iran's missile test 'not a message' to Trump - Reuters

Wall Street Journal

Trump Administration Looks at Driving Wedge Between Russia and Iran Wall Street Journal WASHINGTONThe Trump administration is exploring ways to break Russia's military and diplomatic alliance with Iran in a bid to both end the Syrian conflict and bolster the fight against Islamic State, said senior administration, European and Arab ... Kremlin says it disagrees with Trump's assessment of IranReuters Kremlin breaks with Trump on IranPolitico Russia Rejects Trump's Charge That Iran Is Top Terrorist StateBloomberg Jerusalem Post Israel News -Haaretz -Fox News Insider -T.co all 545 news articles »

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Trump Administration Looks at Driving Wedge Between Russia and Iran - Wall Street Journal

DUBAI Iran has imposed no restrictions on U.S. oil firms willing to participate in energy projects in the country but American sanctions make such cooperation impossible, Iran's deputy oil minister said on Monday.

"Iran has not imposed any restrictions on the U.S. companies, but they cannot participate in our (oil and gas) tenders due to the U.S. laws," Amir Hossein Zamaninia, deputy oil minister for trade and international affairs, was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

"Based on the U.S. Congress sanctions, the American oil companies cannot work in Iran," he added.

Iran said on Saturday that it will hold the country's first tender in mid-February since the lifting of international sanctions to develop oil and natural gas fields.

OPEC's No. 3 oil producer hopes to draw foreign companies to invest in Iran and boost output after years of under-investment. However, foreign firms have so far made little inroads into the country despite the lifting of sanctions.

President Donald Trump's new U.S. administration on Friday imposed fresh sanctions on Iran, which it said were just initial steps. It said Washington would no longer turn a "blind eye" to Iran's hostile actions.

Dismissing the new sanctions, Zamaninia said "such actions have had no effect, and international companies are still keen to do business with Iran."

Anglo-Dutch oil firm Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) signed a provisional deal in December to develop Iranian oil and gas fields South Azadegan, Yadavaran and Kish.

(Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Adrian Croft)

MANILA Philippine Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Regina Lopez will not reconsider her decision to shut down 23 of the country's 41 mines, saying the Southeast Asian nation is "unfit for mining."

LONDON Royal Dutch Shell is seeking to sell its stake in the Danish Underground Consortium (DUC), an offshore oil and gas joint venture, in what would mark the company's effective exit from Denmark, three banking sources said.

SINGAPORE Singapore Exchange has held talks with Saudi Aramco on a secondary listing, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday, after the oil and gas company suggested last week it would likely simultaneously list on more than one exchange.

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Iran says US sanctions stop American oil firms taking part in projects - Reuters