Iran and the US are continuing to grow, with missiles hitting major Saudi oil facilities sparking the latest tensions. Earlier this year a US drone was downed by Iran after it was argued it crossed over into its airspace. The officials added the direction suggests the missiles came from launch sites in the northern Gulf, Iran or Iraq.
Iranian Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said: “Because of the tension and sensitive situation, our region is like a powder keg.
“When these contacts come too close, when forces come into contact with one another, it is possible a conflict happens because of a misunderstanding.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani earlier this year unveiled a new domestically-built submarine, which is armed with cruise missiles.
The reveal came at a time of rising tensions with the United States.
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President Rouhani said in a ceremony broadcast live on the state-run English-language Press TV in February: “From this moment, the Fateh Submarine joins Iran’s naval force with my order.”
Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said: “The Fateh (“conqueror”) submarine is completely homegrown and has been designed and developed by capable experts of the Marine Industries Organisation of the Defence Ministry and enjoys the world’s modern technologies.”
According to Press TV, the Fateh “Conqueror” submarine weighs 600 tonnes, and “enjoys state-of-the-art weaponry”.
This includes: “Torpedoes, naval mines and cruise missiles that could be launched from a submerged position.”
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Anger over Saturday’s barrage on two Saudi oil facilities has been growing, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blaming Tehran for the drone attacks.
Mr Pompeo rejected claims by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels that they had carried out the attacks.
However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that “blaming Iran won’t end the disaster” in Yemen.
The strikes at the weekend have halted the production in Saudi Arabia of 5.7million barrels of oil a day.
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US President Donald Trump said the White House believes it knows the culprit of the strikes, and the US military is “locked and loaded” to take action.
He added the US is “waiting to hear” from Saudi Arabia “as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed”.
The price of US crude oil has been increased by $5.61 (£4.52) per barrel, or 10.2 percent up to $60.46 (£48.66) per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The international standard Brent crude, increased by $7.84 (£6.31) per barrel or 13 percent to $68.06 (£54.78) per barrel.