Trump backs India-Middle East Corridor to counter Iran's grip on oil routes

Donald Trump has said he supports the India-Middle East Economic Corridor as a way to shift Middle Eastern oil away from Iran-controlled chokepoints.

Updated on: Sep 23, 2026, 10:20:35 IST

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US President Donald Trump has voiced support for the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC), calling it a way to steer Middle Eastern oil away from chokepoints under Iran's control.

“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. That is why my administration strongly supports the India-Middle East Economic Corridor and other places, to get oil out, whether it is pipeline or anything else. Together we are on the verge of overcoming challenges that have plagued this region for a decade,” he said.

The US President made these remarks while addressing a multilateral meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council on Tuesday on the margins of the high-level UN General Assembly session.

His remarks came at a time when Iran has periodically threatened to shut or disrupt operations in the Strait of Hormuz – the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman — amid tensions with the West.

The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is a multinational multi-modal connectivity and infrastructure initiative that was officially unveiled on September 9, 2023, during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. It is aimed at boosting connectivity, trade, and sustainability across South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

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