WASHINGTON, Nov 9: US President Donald Trump has said he expects to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of next week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China, with discussions likely to cover denuclearisation and efforts to end the war on Iran.
Trump said the proposed meetings would provide an opportunity to discuss several international issues, including nuclear disarmament and the ongoing conflict involving Washington and Tehran. The APEC leaders’ summit is scheduled to take place in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19.
Meanwhile, Trump said the latest US blockade targeting Iran’s land supply routes, dubbed ‘Operation Iron Gate’, had come into effect, extending Washington’s pressure on Tehran. The move follows the US naval blockade and is aimed at restricting supplies reaching Iran through land routes.
Despite the escalation, Trump indicated that renewed military strikes against Iran were highly unlikely if progress was made in negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme and the reopening of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. He said the possibility of further attacks would depend on whether Iran agreed to a strong deal.