New Delhi, Sept. 23 -- US President Donald Trump on Tuesday publicly backed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), saying the Iran war has highlighted the need to shift critical Middle East energy infrastructure away from vulnerable routes.

Addressing a meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump said attacks on commercial shipping had shown the need to move energy infrastructure away from what he described as Iranian checkpoints.

"That's why my administration strongly supports the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor," Trump said.

Trump's endorsement comes as the Iran war has disrupted regional shipping and energy flows followin...