Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday called his country's characterisation by U.S. President Donald Trump as the "most destructive force" in the Middle East "deceptive", days after a fourth round of Iran-U.

Trump administration sanctioned firms operating in Iran’s illicit international oil trade, as President Trump offered Tehran a "much brighter future" should it come to a nuclear deal with the U.S.

President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.