Such developments were troubling enough, before two Saudi tankers were reportedly sabotaged off the UAE coast on Sunday - a development set to ratchet tensions between Tehran and Washington to new and combustible highs.
Lokho kuthuthukisa bekuyinkinga ngokwanele, ngaphambi kokuba imikhumbi yamathangi yaseSaudi kubikwe ukuthi iphoqwe ukuba isuse ogwini lwe-UAE ngeSonto - isimo esidale ukwanda kokungezwani phakathi kweTehran neWashington kwanyukela ezingeni eliphezulu kakhulu.