The U.S. military has moved a large number of refueling aircraft to Europe to provide options to President Donald Trump as Middle East tensions erupt into conflict between Iran and Israel, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday,

The USS Nimitz carrier strike group is heading to the Middle East, a U.S. official said, joining the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, which arrived in the region in April. The Vinson is set to return home after an overlap period of several days or weeks,

Escalating tensions between Israel and Iran will likely lead to increases in gas prices in Florida and across the nation. Florida gas prices are the lowest in a month, according to AAA - The Auto Club, but face upward pressure heading into this week.

Cyprus has received requests to assist in the evacuation of citizens of Portugal and Slovakia from the Middle East, Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said on Monday.

The confrontation with Tehran has forced a shift in the U.S. plan for a diplomatic deal in Iran and efforts to disentangle from region.

AMANEY A. JAMAL is Co-Founder and Co-Principal Investigator at Arab Barometer, Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University.

By Wayne Cole and Alun John SYDNEY/LONDON (Reuters) -World shares nudged up on Monday, helped by oil walking back some of last week's increase, though the conflict between Israel and Iran remained a concern,