# Trump backs IMEC to shift energy away from Iran 2026-09-23T05:31:33+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets US President Donald Trump has endorsed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as an alternative energy route that bypasses Iranian chokepoints. Speaking at a GCC meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump said Iran's attacks on commercial shipping showed the need to shift Middle East energy infrastructure away from Iranian checkpoints. He also warned he could annihilate Iran if no deal is reached. The IMEC, unveiled at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September 2023, links India to the Gulf via sea and then through a solar-powered rail network across Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel to Europe. The corridor avoids the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal. Trump's backing comes amid heightened Gulf tensions, but Hindustan Times reports that the key to IMEC becoming a reality is Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, which remains uncertain after the October 7 attacks and Saudi's new defence pact with Turkey and Pakistan. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The three stories agree on Trump's UNGA remarks, but the framing of the IMEC's prospects differs sharply. Times Now leads with Trump's endorsement and his threat to Iran, treating the corridor as a straightforward geopolitical shift. Hindustan Times's first story adds context: Iran's Strait of Hormuz threats and Tehran's dismissal of Trump as propaganda. Its second story goes further, conditioning IMEC's viability on Saudi joining the Abraham Accords, a detail omitted by the other two. The neutral reading: IMEC exists as a US-backed proposal, but Saudi Arabia's stance, the October 7 attacks, and the new Mecca defence pact all remain unresolved obstacles. The key is whether Trump can secure Riyadh's participation before his term ends. ## Coverage - timesnownews.com (pro government) Leads with Trump's endorsement and his annihilation threat to Iran, framing IMEC as a straightforward anti-Iran move. - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Focuses on Saudi Arabia's conditional participation and the obstacles from the Mecca pact and Iran proxies, adding geopolitical analysis. - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Focuses on Saudi Arabia's conditional participation and the obstacles from the Mecca pact and Iran proxies, adding geopolitical analysis. Tags: Donald Trump, Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran, Strait of Hormuz Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/trump-backs-india-middle-east-corridor-to-bypass-iran-oil-choke-points/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/trump-backs-india-middle-east-corridor-to-bypass-iran-oil-choke-points/#story-in-brief