Trump backs IMEC as a way around Iran's grip on the region

US President Donald Trump has affirmed his administration's strong backing for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), stressing the need to redirect energy infrastructure away from routes passing through Iranian checkpoints amid ongoing strikes across West Asia.

The remarks came during Trump's address at a multilateral meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council on Tuesday, held on the sidelines of the high-level UN General Assembly session.

"Iran's terrorist attacks on commercial shipping in neighbouring countries have shown the need to shift Middle East energy infrastructure away from the Iranian checkpoints," Trump stated.

He added, "That's why my administration strongly supports the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and other places... the form of getting oil out, whether it's pipelines or anything else, and together we're on the verge of overcoming challenges that have plagued this region for decades."

The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor, first unveiled at the G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 9, 2023, is a multinational initiative focused on multi-modal connectivity and infrastructure development. The project seeks to strengthen trade links, connectivity, and sustainable development across South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.