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Mike Pompeo visits Saudi Arabia, Israel and Jordan

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Mike Pompeo visits Saudi Arabia, Israel and Jordan

Discusses Iran nuclear deal, Yemen’s Houthis, and Qatar crisis

US President Donald Trump’s priority for Saudi Arabia was once again expressed when his new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo chose to visit the Kingdom on Saturday. Trump himself took US Air Force One to Riyadh for his maiden trip out of the country in May last year.

Pompeo arrived in Riyadh on a hastily-arranged visit to the Middle East as the US aims to muster support for new proposed sanctions against Iran before Trump takes the final call on nuclear deal on May 12.

Read More: Trump, Macron for new Iran deal, instead JCPOA

According to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabia TV network, Saudi Arabian foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir, while addressing joint press conference with his US counterpart, stressed on Sunday in Riyadh, on the need to impose further sanctions on Iran.

He pointed out Iran’s successive violations and support to Houthi missiles fired from Yemen towards Saudi Arabia. He was quoted saying, “We support Trump’s policy toward Iran, especially with regard to the nuclear agreement.”

Read More: Houthi warns: US and Saudi Arabia will regret in Yemen

On his part Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed that the Saudi Arabia’s security is a priority for the US and added that Iran was the largest state sponsor of terrorism, Al-Arabia reports.

Earlier in the day, King Salman bin Abdulaziz received Mike Pompeo at his palace and reviewed bilateral relations, and latest developments in the Middle East.Mike Pompeo visits Saudi Arabia, Israel and Jordan

After Riyadh, US Secretary of State is visiting Israel and Jordan, the other close allies in the region.  The Middle East visit came just two days after Pompeo was sworn-in as the Secretary of State.  President Donald Trump is set to decide whether to pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal also known as JCPOA with Iran that is still supported other UNSC permanent members and Germany.

Read More: Trump may start diplomatic war with European allies on Iran n-deal

Brian Hook, a senior policy advisor travelling with Pompeo told reporters, “We are urging nations around the world to sanction any individuals and entities associated with Iran’s missile program, and it has also been a big part of discussions with Europeans.”

Read More: Trump want money from Saudi Arabia for staying US forces in Syria

He referred to the ballistic missiles fired into Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement killing a man earlier on Saturday. He said that Iran supports Yemen’s Houthis. “Iran’s missiles prolong war and suffering in the Middle East, they threaten our security and economic interests and they especially threaten Saudi Arabia and Israel,” he said.

The senior US officials said that Saudi Arabia blame Iran for smuggling the missiles into Yemen.

Read More: Saudi shoots down ‘toy drone’ near Royal Palace in Riyadh

Meanwhile Aljazeera reports that US Secretary of State is imploring Saudi Arabia to end the blockade against Qatar, which has been led by Riyadh since June 2017. UAE, Bahrain and Egypt had also cut diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Qatar along with Saudi Arabia.

Al-Jazeera quoted unnamed US officials telling reporters that Pompeo would urge Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, also known as MBS and King Salman to resolve the Gulf crisis during a series of meetings on Saturday and Sunday.

Pompeo was sqorn in as top US diplomat on Thursday and flew to Brussels for a visit to NATO for a full day job. On Saturday, he began his Middle East tour.

New York Times reports that Mike Pompeo, the former CIA chief, has also asked Saudi Arabia to allow humanitarian and commercial goods into Yemen. He will fly to Israel on Sunday night and will visit Amman, the Jordanian capital afterwards.

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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