Your helper

Friday, August 28, 2026

Trump Announces 'Biggest Oil Deal In World History' With Venezuela, Says US To Control 65 Bn Barrels

US President Donald Trump on Friday announced what he described as the “biggest oil deal in world history” with Venezuela, saying it would give Washington majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of the South American country's proven oil reserves. Trump said the deal was negotiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez. "The United States of America has just entered into an Agreement with the Country of Venezuela on, THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. He said the agreement was secured through a partnership with private businesses and would come "at no cost to the American Taxpayer." <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a6DCu5DD_LU?si=Msi5IlB5fAH91hpy" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h3 data-start="1116" data-end="1158">Trump Says Deal Will Cut US Gas Prices</h3> According to Trump, the agreement will more than double US oil reserves and substantially expand the country's oil supply. He said the additional supply would help bring down gasoline prices in the United States over the long term while supporting Venezuela's economic recovery. "This Historic Transaction MORE THAN DOUBLES American Oil Reserves, greatly increases our Oil Supply, and will substantially lower Gas Prices for all Americans, long into the future, while helping to continue to set Venezuela on a course toward Tremendous Success and Great Prosperity. This Transaction will greatly strengthen the already growing relationship between Venezuela and the United States! Thank you for your attention to this groundbreaking matter," added Trump. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-security-chief-rejects-claim-of-plot-to-assassinate-trump-son-barron-trump-blames-netanyahu-1864236">‘Major Lies’: Iran Security Chief Rejects Claim Of Plot To Assassinate Trump's Son, Blames Netanyahu</a> <h3 data-start="2013" data-end="2060">Announcement Comes Amid High US Fuel Prices</h3> The announcement comes as Trump faces pressure over elevated fuel prices in the United States and the war in Iran reaches the six-month mark without an end in sight. The United States has drawn on its strategic petroleum reserves, which fell below 300 million barrels in early August. The stockpile has declined by more than 100 million barrels since the beginning of 2026, Associated Press reported. The conflict involving the US and Israel against Iran has also sharply reduced Gulf oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict, around 20 per cent of the world's petroleum passed through the waterway. The average US gasoline price stood at about $4.09 a gallon on Friday, according to AAA, compared with $3.21 at the same time last year. Trump indicated that the Venezuela arrangement would involve a private-sector partnership, but details about the companies participating in the deal were not immediately available. Rubio said on X that the latest agreement would bring $100 billion in private investment to Venezuela and contribute to lower gasoline prices in the United States. "This deal is a huge win for both the American and Venezuelan people," Rubio posted. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/china-defies-us-sanctions-on-iran-as-trump-xi-summit-looms-1864216">China Defies US Sanctions On Iran As Trump-Xi Summit Looms</a> <h3 class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" data-start="4468" data-end="4516">Venezuela Holds World's Largest Oil Reserves</h3> Venezuela has an estimated 303 billion barrels of crude oil reserves, among the largest in the world, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The country's reserves account for about 17 per cent of the world's total supply. Experts say much of Venezuela's underground oil has already been mapped and identified. However, years of deteriorating infrastructure have constrained production. Venezuela currently produces only about 1 per cent of the world's oil.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-announces-biggest-oil-deal-in-world-history-with-venezuela-says-us-to-control-65-bn-barrels-1864322

No update on group of 77 pilgrims of Isha Foundation missing in Tibet

Kathmandu, Aug 28 (PTI): There has been no update on the whereabouts of a group of 77 pilgrims from the Isha Foundation that went missing after a massive flash flood struck areas near the China-Nepal border two days ago, the group’s coordinator said on Friday. The 77-member group, led by Isha Foundation, an organisation founded by Indian spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev, Sadhguru, has remained out of contact. Maa Gambhiri, a coordinator at the group, told PTI that Sadhguru wanted to visit Gyirong, the ground zero of the disaster, to help but did not get the necessary approval. She said they had participants from 19 nationalities and they reached out to every embassy in India, China and Nepal to get all the support they could. She said they also reached out to various offices and ministries in India and Nepal to get any information and help. "There has been no update on the 77 missing Isha Foundation pilgrims for the last two days. The rescue teams are on the ground but there is still no information yet,” she said. “There are 77 families waiting desperately for the answers. It is an emotional turmoil for them," she added. The Isha Foundation organises multiple Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimages each season. Groups travel from Kathmandu through Nepal to Tibet, with trekking on foot as part of the pilgrimage. In a message posted on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, Sadhguru said one of his Kailash pilgrimage groups was caught in the flash flood while returning to Nepal. The group was at the immigration office in Gyirong when the flood struck, reportedly inundating the building and much of the town. Three volunteers were stuck in Timure, Nepal, he said. The missing pilgrims include 22 from the US, 12 from Canada, 11 from Australia, nine from the UK, four from Germany, three each from France and Nepal, two each from the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore and Spain, and one each from Finland, Hungary, Israel, Lithuania, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia and South Africa. According to Nepal police, at least 579 people have been killed in the devastation, with nearly a thousand missing. PTI GSP GSP(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/no-update-on-group-of-77-pilgrims-of-isha-foundation-missing-in-tibet-1864316

Nepal Flood Tragedy: Army Crawls To Rescue People Trapped In Mud-Filled Tunnel, Chilling Video

Nepal's devastating floods have triggered a massive rescue operation, with the Nepal Army releasing a horrifying video showing people being rescued from a tunnel buried under mud and debris in Rasuwa district. The footage from the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project shows people trapped inside the tunnel crawling through the mud as rescue personnel pull them out one by one to safety. <h2>Army Faces Tough Rescue Challenge</h2> Nepal Army spokesperson Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet said the rescue operation has been extremely challenging as the area is covered in mud and debris, making it difficult to locate the tunnel's entry and exit points. “Everywhere there is only mud, making it very challenging to find the way. However, our first priority is to bring the people trapped inside to safety as quickly as possible,” he said. The mountainous and difficult terrain has also made it challenging for authorities to locate people and deliver relief. Hundreds have died in the disaster, while more than 1,000 people remain missing. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> जलविद्युत् सुरूङमा फसेकाहरुको उद्धारमा <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#नेपालीसेना</a>.... जहाँ संकट, त्यहाँ <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#नेपालीसेना</a> !!!<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/NepaliArmy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NepaliArmy</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/BhotekoshiFlood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BhotekoshiFlood</a> <a href="https://t.co/PAt30A3fSR">pic.twitter.com/PAt30A3fSR</a> — Nepali Army (@NepaliArmyHQ) <a href="https://ift.tt/aAQzG31 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://ift.tt/MS3NK9O" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> <h2>Nepal Floods Trigger Fresh Concerns</h2> The devastating floods have caused widespread destruction across Nepal and are being described as the country's second-largest tragedy after the 2015 earthquake. Tamara Demuria, head of humanitarian affairs at Corus International, said the scale of the devastation was far greater than could have been imagined, with many families losing everything. She appealed to India, the United States and the wider international community to come together and provide assistance to Nepal during the crisis. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5r9UQVPwiF4?si=IJ4nj5cftrjboQIb" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h2>Fresh Flood Threat Looms</h2> People in affected areas said everything was swept away within moments, while many victims have yet to be identified. Around 30 to 35 kilometres of the area, including a major road, has been completely washed away. Meanwhile, Nepal has issued another flood warning. A barrier lake above the Gyirong border port near the Tibet border has breached, raising concerns over another round of flooding.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/nepal-flood-tragedy-army-crawls-to-rescue-people-trapped-in-mud-filled-tunnel-chilling-video-1864312

Serbia Walks EU-Russia Tightrope Ahead Of Crucial Election

Edited by: Rob Mudge Smoke from the wildfires still hangs over parts of Serbia, but as the flames slowly recede, another debate is taking shape in their wake — one that has less to do with firefighting and more with politics. In early August, wildfires swept across Serbia, affecting more than 3,500 hectares (8,600 acres) in the Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve alone. For days, firefighters, soldiers and helicopters battled the flames. Then a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 firefighting aircraft arrived in the southern city of Nis. Serbia had turned to Moscow for help, making Russia the first foreign country it asked to provide a firefighting aircraft. Pro-government media greeted its arrival with celebratory coverage, dubbing the aircraft the "Russian beast." "Considering that there are no firefighting aircraft of this capacity available within the European Union, the arriving Russian aircraft will significantly strengthen our capacities to fight the fires," said Luka Causic, head of the Serbian Interior Ministry's Department for Emergency Situations. <h2>A pragmatic choice between EU, Russia — or a political signal?</h2> The episode, however, was already being viewed through a geopolitical lens, as Serbia had sought Russian assistance before activating the EU's emergency mechanism. When it did, the response was swift. Brussels mobilized four helicopters from its strategic rescEU reserve, based in Czechia, Romania and Slovakia, along with ground firefighting teams from Germany and Romania. Vucic rejected the idea that turning to Russia first was a foreign-policy decision or a sign of Serbia's political alignment with Moscow. "As far as equipment and resources are concerned, we are a European giant. The helicopters we received from Europe to fight the fires are less capable than ours and have a lower carrying capacity than our own," Vucic said during a visit to the Deliblato Sands. <h2>Zelenskyy in Belgrade</h2> The wildfire episode came less than two weeks after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first official visit to Serbia. The two presidents reaffirmed their support for each other's territorial integrity, which is particularly significant for Belgrade because Ukraine does not recognise Kosovo's independence. But Vucic is also trying to keep the other side on board, says Vuk Vuksanovic, a political scientist and foreign-policy lecturer at King's College London. Vuksanovic argues that Vucic's engagement with Zelenskyy must therefore be portrayed in Moscow not as a fundamental shift in Serbia's relationship with Russia, but as a response to Western pressure and Serbia's own interests. "Vucic is now trying to make sure that neither the West nor Russia becomes an open opponent during the election campaign," said Vuksanovic. "Zelenskyy was primarily received so that the ruling coalition could present itself to Europeans as a great friend of Ukraine. In the same way, Vucic is trying to present himself to the Trump administration as a great friend of Israel, primarily to ensure that neither the European Union nor the United States becomes an opponent of the ruling party during the election campaign," Vuksanovic added. <h2>Vucic's room for maneuver is shrinking</h2> The problem is that the room to maintain these relationships may be shrinking. The deeper the confrontation between Russia and the West becomes, the harder it is for Serbia to remain close to both without facing pressure to choose. The European Union increasingly expects candidate countries to align their foreign and security policies with those of the bloc. Serbia's refusal to impose sanctions on Russia remains one of the most visible obstacles to closer alignment. But Moscow, too, has reasons not to take Belgrade's loyalty for granted, Vuksanovic said. He argues that Russia does not fully trust Vucic, even as Moscow continues to support his narrative about "color revolutions" — a reference to anti-government protests, in this case the student-led protests in Serbia that started last year, which Vucic and Russia portray as Western-backed attempts to destabilize the government. For Vucic, however, the longer-term question of Serbia's ties with Russia can wait. The more immediate question is whether he will survive the election, tentatively scheduled for October, and remain in a position to preserve that delicate balance himself. <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live. </div>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/serbia-keeping-eu-russia-in-play-ahead-of-key-election-1864311

Thursday, August 27, 2026

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat true believer in US-India ties: Indian-American venture capitalist

New York, Aug 27 (PTI): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat interacted with leaders and executives from various industries at a roundtable here, with an Indian-American venture capitalist highlighting his “unshakable confidence" in Indian youth and describing him as a “true believer” in US-India friendship. Bhagwat is in New York for a three-day visit as part of the RSS' centenary-year global outreach programme. Taking to X on Thursday, Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist Asha Jadeja Motwani, who was part of the meeting, said the 75-year-old RSS chief discussed various topics, ranging from space to quantum computing. “Had an amazing roundtable meeting with Mr Mohan Bhagwat in NY. He fielded important questions by all of us from various industries, including telecommunications, space, clean energy, not so clean energy, technology, quantum computing, etc,” Motwani said. She said those attending the interaction wanted to know how Bhagwat could help streamline procedures at various state levels and set up companies or manufacturing plants in India without the “bureaucratic drag”. Motwani said the RSS chief “brilliantly” answered their questions, while making clear that he was not speaking on behalf of the Indian government. She further said his answers “inspired confidence in all of us that he might be able to get a few things done”. Listing key takeaways from the interaction with Bhagwat, Jadeja said, “The man has a heart of gold, truly believes in a unified India and a unified world. He sees absolutely no difference between various religious groups. For him, all Indians are ‘kutumbhakam’ (family).” She said the RSS chief has a “bias" towards Indian youth, adding, “It was clear to see that he has unshakable confidence in Indian youth, and believes in the change that they are demanding. He seems to be their biggest champion in the country. Lucky for India.” “I have come away from the meeting 100 per cent bullish that the Indian youth will drive change in unprecedented ways. And RSS will help them overthrow the last vestiges of colonial structures that keep India slow. Proud of my home country India. What does Mr Bhagwat think of the US? He’s a true believer in US-India friendship and bridge building… and has promised us that he will visit us more often,” Motwani said. The roundtable comes days ahead of Bhagwat’s scheduled ‘Universal Oneness Celebration’ at Madison Square Garden on August 29, where he is expected to address 6,000 members of the Indian diaspora and other communities. The American Hindus for Engagement and Dialogue (AHEAD), which has organised this event, has described it as a “landmark Raksha Bandhan gathering”, expected to bring together thousands of Hindus and hundreds of Hindu, cultural, spiritual, service, and community organisations from across the United States. Through cultural presentations and keynote addresses, the event will explore the theme of universal oneness and the Hindu principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' -- the world is one family, the organisers said. PTI YAS KSI KSI(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-true-believer-in-us-india-ties-indian-american-venture-capitalist-1864231

‘Disconnected From Kathmandu’: Nepal Floods Disrupt Communications

Edited by: Wesley Rahn With the death toll in Nepal well into the hundreds and rising following a massive flash flood on Wednesday, the full scope of destruction remains unclear. People from the affected areas told DW that many villages remain both physically and electronically cut off from the capital, Kathmandu. Bidhya Rajput, a journalist based in the capital, said her home in the Sole village in Nepal's Nuwakot District was swept away by the Trisuli River. "As far as we know, only four or five people from Sole village could save their lives by fleeing towards the hills. Others couldn't make their way as the floods came up suddenly," she told DW. The government has declared Nuwakot, along with Rasuwa and Dhading districts, to be the most affected by the deadly floods. Rajput told DW her husband's parents remain missing. Her father-in-law, a teacher, may have been caught in the flood while returning home after work, according to the school principal. Rajput's husband has left for the village in search for news on his family members, despite the roads being damaged and swept away in many places. Rajput said that there are no further updates from the village as there has been no electricity or mobile communication since early morning on Thursday. "The state's rescue and relief efforts have been centered mostly on bigger cities," she said, adding that "state assistance is yet to reach Sole." Villagers said the same area was affected by flooding last year, but many villagers managed to get to higher ground and the water did not reach as high as on Tuesday. "Had the villagers received early warning information, [and] could have presumed that this time floods would be so massive, they could have fled to safe locations like last year," Rajput said. "This time, they couldn't get even that chance." <h2>'Two of my close relatives are missing'</h2> But Usha Kiran Timsena, an opposition politician from Nuwakot, said police and local officials did issue a warning that a massive flood was coming. However, many people in the area simply didn't account for the scale and speed of the mass of water. "Many those who were a bit far from riversides took it lightly and couldn't flee once the flood reaches to their places," she told DW. "Two of my close relatives have been missing since yesterday morning. There has been no further update or contact since then." Authorities said that more than three dozen bridges, including vehicular and suspension bridges, as well as a dozen hydropower dams, have been destroyed by the floods. Sujan Lohani from Dhading told DW that he never imagined that the flooding and destruction caused by the Trishuli River could be so massive and widespread. The main bridge over the Trishuli River, connecting his district headquarters with the capital Kathmandu, has been swept away. "I am worried that my cousin is now in the village," he told DW. "We are disconnected from Kathmandu." <h2>Hundreds of survivors airlifted from affected areas</h2> Nepal's authorities are racing to reach survivors in the affected areas. With over a 1,300 people still missing, including hundreds of foreign nationals, as of Thursday, Nepal's neighbors India and China are coordinating with Kathmandu on the disaster response. Rescue teams are airlifting stranded and injured people to the capital, while police, military and ordinary citizens are building temporary shelters for the displaced. "We are putting our all-out efforts to rescue people alive," Nepal's Minister for Information and Communication Bikram Timilsina told DW. Timilsina represents the flood-hit Nuwakot-1 constituency in the House of Representatives and is currently in the affected region. He described the destruction as enormous "Entire villages have been swept away. Many have tragically lost their lives. Many are out of contact," he said. "I don't think our state mechanism had ever imagined a flood and disaster of such magnitude," Timilsina said. At the same time, Timilsina noted said the state has mobilized all its resources, including more than a dozen helicopters, to transport survivors to safety and deliver aid. At least 414 stranded people, including 164 foreigners were airlifted by mid-day Thursday, according to the minister. <h2>What do experts say about the cause of the flood?</h2> Scientists are still debating the exact cause of the natural disaster, despite Beijing claiming it was triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse. Sudip Thakuri, a climate scientist and associate professor at Central Department of Environmental Science at Nepal's Tribhuvan University, told DW that preliminary assessments indicate the flood was likely triggered by an avalanche on the Nepali side of the Nepal-China border. "So far, what we have concluded is that a massive avalanche initially blocked a river flowing southwards from the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. Once the avalanche-created landslide dam burst, it might also have swept away a subglacial lake downstream, triggering massive flooding," he said. Another climate scientist, Rijan Raj Kayastha, who teaches at Kathmandu University, warned of the possibility of further flooding due to other glacial lakes in the area. Separately, Chinese authorities also warned that another lake in Tibet's Gyirong, upstream from the flooded area in Nepal, was already overflowing and that another 3 millions of tons of water were expected to enter the lake over the next three days. <div id="article-hstick-inner" class="abp-story-detail "> Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live. </div>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/disconnected-from-kathmandu-nepal-floods-disrupt-communications-1864218

China Defies US Sanctions On Iran As Trump-Xi Summit Looms

Edited by: Darko Janjevic China has pushed back on what it called "illegal unilateral sanctions" after the US announced new measures earlier this week to cut off all potential sources of revenue to Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday described the sanctions package as an "economic D-Day" against Tehran, and warned any economic engagement with the regime would "expose those responsible to the full reach" of US power. China is Iran's top trade partner and provides a lifeline to Tehran mainly through oil purchases, but also with banking, technology and dual-use goods, which can be used both for civilian and military purposes. When asked whether Chinese banks would be included in the new measures, Bessent warned that "no one was above the reach of US sanctions." But with US President Donald Trump due to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in September, Washington will need to be careful with any moves affecting China-Iran trade ties. <h2>China's big banks still safe</h2> The initial US sanctions package stops short of targeting major Chinese banks. Instead, it focuses on 60 smaller entities, individuals, and vessels, both in mainland China and Hong Kong, that are part of the ecosystem supporting "illicit nuclear and missile technology procurement, cyber operations, and oil‑revenue generation networks." China purchases up to 90% of Iranian oil exports, some of it through independent "teapot" refineries which end up rebranding the oil or using intermediaries to bypass US sanctions. In May, China's Commerce Ministry ordered domestic businesses and teapot refineries to ignore US restrictions targeting several of these refineries. At the time, Bessent said China's Iran oil purchases amounted to "funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism." <h2>Beijing balances between Iran and its rivals</h2> On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said cooperation between China and Iran "has always been conducted within the framework of international law and should not be interfered with or disrupted." China maintains a transactional relationship while framing instability in the Middle East as a failure of US policy. At the same time, Beijing also projects the image of a stable, responsible superpower, and avoids being lumped together with rogue states the US accuses it of supporting. Beijing also values its trade ties with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, prompting it to carefully balance its relationships to avoid alienating Iran's regional rivals. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the US sanctions package are likely to be on the agenda when Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kyrgyzstan, scheduled for August 31 to September 1. The SCO focuses on Eurasian security and is part of China's strategy of creating a "multipolar" world order to counter the global influence of the US. China has been "trying to deepen its engagement and expand the scope of its relations with Gulf countries. From this perspective, Iran remains a useful and important partner for China, but it is not irreplaceable," William Yang, senior analyst for Northeast Asia at the International Crisis Group, told DW. "In some ways, China benefits from Washington's continued involvement in regional security and defense and is not seeking to replace the US in that regard," Yang added. <h2>Is US power waning in the Middle East?</h2> However, US military setbacks during the Iran war have called this security umbrella into question and have changed the strategic landscape in the Middle East, Gu Xuewu, political scientist and director of the Center for Global Studies at Germany's University of Bonn, told DW. "Against this backdrop, Beijing will not yield to US pressure to sever economic and trade ties with Iran or to help the US maintain its presence in the Middle East," Gu said. Since the Iran war was launched in late February, Beijing has consistently called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict. This week, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jian said that Washington's strategy of "economic asphyxiation" will fail to resolve the crisis and will only further intensify Middle Eastern tensions. "China disapproves of the US' assertive behavior in this region, and is even less willing to accept the US using every means at its disposal to hinder cooperation between Arab states and China in the areas of energy, the military, science, technology, and trade," said Gu. He added that Beijing has no interest in fighting a "decisive battle" with the US in the Middle East. "It is enough to provoke the US into making mistakes in the Middle East and to allow it to continue making further mistakes without interfering," he added. <h2>Trump-Xi summit looms large</h2> In 2025, when the US tried to pressure China with massive tariffs, Beijing hit back by threatening to cut off the supply of rare earth minerals, forcing the Trump administration to retreat. Since then, Trump has tried to stabilize the US-China relationship, including with a high profile summit in Beijingthis May. Now, Chinese leader Xi is due to visit Washington in September. "Since Beijing and Washington are both focused on paving the way for the highly anticipated summit on September 24, I don't think either country will take drastic action on Iran to jeopardize the summit," Yang said. However, he added that China will "maintain its baseline engagement with Iran and will be prepared to defend its economic interests if the US government begins to target Chinese businesses with secondary sanctions." If the US hits large Chinese companies and banks with sanctions, then it is foreseeable that China will respond with equivalent retaliatory measures while maintaining its ties to Iran, says Professor Gu. However, he added that Beijing will not "abandon the painstakingly negotiated plans for a summit." "We will see China and the US on a collision course over the Iran issue, even as they engage in friendly discussions during the summit between Xi Jinping and Trump," Gu said. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/china-defies-us-sanctions-on-iran-as-trump-xi-summit-looms-1864216