US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Malaysia&#39;s Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (August 9) during the second of his two-day working visit, part of his first trip to Asia.

Tillerson yesterday (August 8) met with Prime Minister Najib Razak and held discussions on strengthening cooperation on a range of issues in the 60th year of US - Malaysia bilateral relations, the US&nbsp;Embassy said in a statement.

Tillerson was scheduled to meet and greet US embassy staff after the meeting with Zahid.

Before his arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Tillerson met his ASEAN counterparts at the 50th Asean Foreign Ministers meeting in Manila and made a brief stopover in Thailand.

Before his arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Tillerson met his ASEAN counterparts at the 50th Asean Foreign Ministers meeting in Manila and made a brief stopover in Thailand

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (August 9) during the second of his two-day working visit, part of his first trip to Asia. Tillerson yesterday (August 8) met with Prime Minister Najib Razak and held discussions on strengthening cooperation on a range of issues in the 60th year of US - Malaysia bilateral relations, the US Embassy said in a statement. Tillerson was scheduled to meet and greet US embassy staff after the meeting with Zahid. Before his arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Tillerson met his ASEAN counterparts at the 50th Asean Foreign Ministers meeting in Manila and made a brief stopover in Thailand.

Tillerson meets Malaysian prime minister to strengthen relations

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson acknowledged on Tuesday that he and President Donald Trump disagree over the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and said the two men discuss how to use the international agreement to advance administration policies.

Trump at times vowed during the 2016 presidential election campaign to withdraw from the agreement, which was signed by the United States, Russia, China and three European powers to curb Iran&#39;s nuclear program in return for lifting most Western sanctions.

Trump has preserved the deal for now, although he has made clear he did so reluctantly after being advised to do so by Tillerson.

&quot;He and I have differences of views on things like JCPOA, and how we should use it,&quot; Tillerson said at a State Department briefing, using the acronym for the deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Tillerson said that Washington could &quot;tear it up and walk away&quot; or stay in the deal and hold Iran accountable to its terms, which he said would require Iran to act as a &quot;good neighbor.&quot;

Critics say the deal falls short in addressing Iran&#39;s support for foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria, arms shipments around the Middle East and ballistic missile tests.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tillerson&#39;s remarks.

Trump said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal last month that he predicts Iran will be judged &quot;noncompliant&quot; with the Iran deal at the next deadline in October, and that he would have preferred to do so months ago.

Tillerson expressed a more nuanced view of the deal&#39;s potential benefits on Tuesday.

&quot;There are a lot of alternative means with which we use the agreement to advance our policies and the relationship with Iran, and that&#39;s what the conversation generally is around with the president as well,&quot; Tillerson said.

European officials would likely be reluctant to reimpose sanctions, especially the broader measures that helped drive Iran to negotiate over its nuclear program in the first place.

New US&nbsp;sanctions on Iran in July were a breach of the nuclear deal and Tehran had lodged a complaint with the body that oversees the pact&#39;s implementation, a senior Iranian politician said.

Tillerson acknowledged that the United States is limited in how much it can pressure Iran on its own and said it was important to coordinate with the other parties to the agreement.

&quot;The greatest pressure we can put to bear on Iran to change the behavior is a collective pressure,&quot; he said.

'He and I have differences of views on things like JCPOA, and how we should use it,' Tillerson said at a State Department briefing, using the acronym for the deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson acknowledged on Tuesday that he and President Donald Trump disagree over the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and said the two men discuss how to use the international agreement to advance administration policies. Trump at times vowed during the 2016 presidential election campaign to withdraw from the agreement, which was signed by the United States, Russia, China and three European powers to curb Iran's nuclear program in return for lifting most Western sanctions. Trump has preserved the deal for now, although he has made clear he did so reluctantly after being advised to do so by Tillerson. "He and I have differences of views on things like JCPOA, and how we should use it," Tillerson said at a State Department briefing, using the acronym for the deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Tillerson said that Washington could "tear it up and walk away" or stay in the deal and hold Iran accountable to its terms, which he said would require Iran to act as a "good neighbor." Critics say the deal falls short in addressing Iran's support for foreign fighters in Iraq and Syria, arms shipments around the Middle East and ballistic missile tests. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tillerson's remarks. Trump said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal last month that he predicts Iran will be judged "noncompliant" with the Iran deal at the next deadline in October, and that he would have preferred to do so months ago. Tillerson expressed a more nuanced view of the deal's potential benefits on Tuesday. "There are a lot of alternative means with which we use the agreement to advance our policies and the relationship with Iran, and that's what the conversation generally is around with the president as well," Tillerson said. European officials would likely be reluctant to reimpose sanctions, especially the broader measures that helped drive Iran to negotiate over its nuclear program in the first place. New US sanctions on Iran in July were a breach of the nuclear deal and Tehran had lodged a complaint with the body that oversees the pact's implementation, a senior Iranian politician said. Tillerson acknowledged that the United States is limited in how much it can pressure Iran on its own and said it was important to coordinate with the other parties to the agreement. "The greatest pressure we can put to bear on Iran to change the behavior is a collective pressure," he said.

Trump and I disagree on Iran nuclear deal: Tillerson

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has ordered an inter-agency review of whether the lifting of sanctions against Iran under a 2015 nuclear deal was in the United States&#39; national security interests, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Tuesday.

Tillerson said in a statement that Iran remained compliant with its commitments under the deal to rein in its nuclear programme but there were concerns about its role as a state sponsor of terrorism.

He said he had notified US&nbsp;House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, the top Republican in Congress, of the decision on Tuesday and of Iran&#39;s compliance under the deal, clinched under the Obama administration.

&quot;President Donald J&nbsp;Trump has directed a National Security Council-led interagency review of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that will evaluate whether suspension of sanctions related to Iran pursuant to the JCPOA is vital to the national security interests of the United States,&quot; Tillerson said in the statement.

&quot;It remains a leading state sponsor of terror, through many platforms and methods,&quot; Tillerson said.

The 2015 deal between Iran and six major powers restricts Tehran&#39;s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Trump has called the agreement &quot;the worst deal ever negotiated&quot;.

(Reuters)

Tillerson said Iran remained compliant with its commitments to rein in its nuclear programme, but is a state sponsor of terrorism

US President Donald Trump has ordered an inter-agency review of whether the lifting of sanctions against Iran under a 2015 nuclear deal was in the United States' national security interests, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Tuesday. Tillerson said in a statement that Iran remained compliant with its commitments under the deal to rein in its nuclear programme but there were concerns about its role as a state sponsor of terrorism. He said he had notified US House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, the top Republican in Congress, of the decision on Tuesday and of Iran's compliance under the deal, clinched under the Obama administration. "President Donald J Trump has directed a National Security Council-led interagency review of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that will evaluate whether suspension of sanctions related to Iran pursuant to the JCPOA is vital to the national security interests of the United States," Tillerson said in the statement. "It remains a leading state sponsor of terror, through many platforms and methods," Tillerson said. The 2015 deal between Iran and six major powers restricts Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Trump has called the agreement "the worst deal ever negotiated". (Reuters)

Trump orders review of lifting sanctions against Iran: Tillerson

Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China told his US counterpart Rex Tillerson that Beijing was ready to work with the Trump administration, according to a Chinese account of their meeting in Bonn.

Wang and Tillerson met on Friday at a G20 gathering of foreign ministers -- the highest-level Sino-US encounter since President Donald Trump was elected.

Trump had infuriated Beijing by calling into question Washington&#39;s long-standing &quot;One China&quot; policy, but later reaffirmed it in a conciliatory phone call to Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

Wang told Tillerson this consensus on the issue &quot;created the necessary pre-conditions for the two nations to engage in strategic cooperation on bilateral, regional, and global issues,&quot; said a Chinese foreign ministry statement issued late Friday.

&quot;Wang said that China and the United States, both shouldering the responsibilities of securing world stability and enhancing global prosperity, had more common interests than disputes,&quot; the statement went on.

&quot;China is ready to work with the US side to implement the consensus reached between President Xi and President Trump, and move the bilateral relationship forward in the direction that features no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.&quot;

Wang added that the two sides should increase communication and cooperation &quot;to ensure greater development of bilateral relations during Trump&#39;s presidency.&quot;

The &quot;One China&quot; policy is an acknowledgement that Taiwan is not separate from mainland China.

Trump&#39;s telephone call with Taiwan&#39;s president after his November election victory infuriated Beijing, which saw it as a repudiation of the &quot;One China&quot; policy.

Wang&#39;s attendance at the G20 foreign ministers&#39; meeting seemed in doubt in the fallout, but after Trump&#39;s call with Xi, it was announced that the trip would go ahead.

Taiwan has been ruled separately since Mao Zedong&#39;s communists ousted China&#39;s Nationalists who fled to the island in 1949.

On the campaign trail, Trump regularly attacked China for stealing American jobs and running a massive, unfair trade surplus that he vowed to reverse.

The US State Department said the two ministers discussed the need for a &quot;level playing field for trade and investment.&quot;

It said Tillerson also told Wang that Beijing must rein in North Korea after its series of nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

(AFP)

Trump had infuriated Beijing by calling into question Washington's long-standing 'One China' policy

Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China told his US counterpart Rex Tillerson that Beijing was ready to work with the Trump administration, according to a Chinese account of their meeting in Bonn. Wang and Tillerson met on Friday at a G20 gathering of foreign ministers -- the highest-level Sino-US encounter since President Donald Trump was elected. Trump had infuriated Beijing by calling into question Washington's long-standing "One China" policy, but later reaffirmed it in a conciliatory phone call to Chinese President Xi Jinping last week. Wang told Tillerson this consensus on the issue "created the necessary pre-conditions for the two nations to engage in strategic cooperation on bilateral, regional, and global issues," said a Chinese foreign ministry statement issued late Friday. "Wang said that China and the United States, both shouldering the responsibilities of securing world stability and enhancing global prosperity, had more common interests than disputes," the statement went on. "China is ready to work with the US side to implement the consensus reached between President Xi and President Trump, and move the bilateral relationship forward in the direction that features no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation." Wang added that the two sides should increase communication and cooperation "to ensure greater development of bilateral relations during Trump's presidency." The "One China" policy is an acknowledgement that Taiwan is not separate from mainland China. Trump's telephone call with Taiwan's president after his November election victory infuriated Beijing, which saw it as a repudiation of the "One China" policy. Wang's attendance at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting seemed in doubt in the fallout, but after Trump's call with Xi, it was announced that the trip would go ahead. Taiwan has been ruled separately since Mao Zedong's communists ousted China's Nationalists who fled to the island in 1949. On the campaign trail, Trump regularly attacked China for stealing American jobs and running a massive, unfair trade surplus that he vowed to reverse. The US State Department said the two ministers discussed the need for a "level playing field for trade and investment." It said Tillerson also told Wang that Beijing must rein in North Korea after its series of nuclear and ballistic missile tests. (AFP)

Chinese foreign minister tells Tillerson Beijing ready to work with US

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump&#39;s choice for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, will have to explain his relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at his confirmation hearing, senior Republican senator John McCain said on Thursday.

McCain, who is chairman of the US&nbsp;Senate Armed Services Committee, also called President Putin &quot;a thug and a murderer&quot;.

Speaking on a tour of the Baltic states, where there is widespread concern that Moscow wants to reassert its power across the region, McCain said he had concerns about Tillerson, who opposed sanctions on Russia after its annexation of Crimea.

&quot;I and several of my colleagues have concerns about Mr Tillerson, and some of his past activities, specifically his relationship with Vladimir Putin,&quot; McCain told reporters.

&quot;I have concerns but at the same time I&#39;m certain we will give Mr Tillerson an opportunity to make his case about why he is qualified to be Secretary of State.&quot;

Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Tillerson could face a rocky confirmation process, given worries among both Democrats and Republicans about his connections with Russia and possible conflicts of interest related to his business ties.

Tillerson owns approximately $218 million in ExxonMobil stock, and a&nbsp;pension worth about&nbsp;$70 million, the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/profits-are-down-at-exxonmobil-but-dont-cry-for-ceo-rex-tillerson/2016/04/29/d6401e0c-0d60-11e6-a6b6-2e6de3695b0e_story.html?utm_term=.1bbbfc675e44">Washington Post reports.</a>&nbsp;

When&nbsp;Obama administation slapped sanctions on Russia after Putin annexed Crimea, Tillerson voiced opposition--Exxon had just discovered an enormous reserve of oil in the Kara Sea, and Obama&#39;s sanctions prevented the company from making an enormous profit.

Assuming the senate confirms the appointment&nbsp;and he does become&nbsp;Trump&#39;s secretary of state, Tillerson, a man who&nbsp;personally received the &quot;Russian Order of Friendship award&quot; from Vladimir Putin himself, would&nbsp;be in a position to decide whether or not to continue sanctions against Putin&#39;s Russia.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Relations between Moscow and Washington have deteriorated following Russia&#39;s annexation of the Crimea in 2014, with the two nations also at loggerheads over Syria.

The Obama administration also plans a series of retaliatory measures against Russia for hacking into US&nbsp;political institutions and individuals and leaking information.

Trump, who before he won the election complained for weeks that it was rigged and when pressed on the issue refused to say that he would accept its result, has now said&nbsp;that the United States should move on from the controversy.

McCain, however, said the United States needed to reassure voters there and abroad that elections would not be influenced by foreign powers.

&quot;I agree with president elect that we need to get on of our lives - without having elections being affected by any outside influence, especially Vladimir Putin, who is a thug and a murderer,&quot; he said.

Fellow Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who is travelling with McCain, called for sanctions against Russia to be widened to target areas like energy and to be directly aimed at Putin.

&quot;I think the sanctions need to go beyond what it is today, they need to name Putin as an individual and his inner circle because nothing happens in Russia without his knowledge and approval,&quot; Graham said.

Graham has also stated that &quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/99-senators-believe-russia-interfered-in-us-elections-republican-senator-graham-10642">99&nbsp;per cent</a>&quot; of US&nbsp;Senators&nbsp;believe&nbsp;Russia interfered in the election. He never named the one per cent who apparently disagrees.

(With inputs from Reuters)

He, and many Democrats and Republicans, are wary of Tillerson's personal and business connections to Vladimir Putin

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, will have to explain his relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at his confirmation hearing, senior Republican senator John McCain said on Thursday. McCain, who is chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, also called President Putin "a thug and a murderer". Speaking on a tour of the Baltic states, where there is widespread concern that Moscow wants to reassert its power across the region, McCain said he had concerns about Tillerson, who opposed sanctions on Russia after its annexation of Crimea. "I and several of my colleagues have concerns about Mr Tillerson, and some of his past activities, specifically his relationship with Vladimir Putin," McCain told reporters. "I have concerns but at the same time I'm certain we will give Mr Tillerson an opportunity to make his case about why he is qualified to be Secretary of State." Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Tillerson could face a rocky confirmation process, given worries among both Democrats and Republicans about his connections with Russia and possible conflicts of interest related to his business ties. Tillerson owns approximately $218 million in ExxonMobil stock, and a pension worth about $70 million, the Washington Post reports. When Obama administation slapped sanctions on Russia after Putin annexed Crimea, Tillerson voiced opposition--Exxon had just discovered an enormous reserve of oil in the Kara Sea, and Obama's sanctions prevented the company from making an enormous profit. Assuming the senate confirms the appointment and he does become Trump's secretary of state, Tillerson, a man who personally received the "Russian Order of Friendship award" from Vladimir Putin himself, would be in a position to decide whether or not to continue sanctions against Putin's Russia. Relations between Moscow and Washington have deteriorated following Russia's annexation of the Crimea in 2014, with the two nations also at loggerheads over Syria. The Obama administration also plans a series of retaliatory measures against Russia for hacking into US political institutions and individuals and leaking information. Trump, who before he won the election complained for weeks that it was rigged and when pressed on the issue refused to say that he would accept its result, has now said that the United States should move on from the controversy. McCain, however, said the United States needed to reassure voters there and abroad that elections would not be influenced by foreign powers. "I agree with president elect that we need to get on of our lives - without having elections being affected by any outside influence, especially Vladimir Putin, who is a thug and a murderer," he said. Fellow Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who is travelling with McCain, called for sanctions against Russia to be widened to target areas like energy and to be directly aimed at Putin. "I think the sanctions need to go beyond what it is today, they need to name Putin as an individual and his inner circle because nothing happens in Russia without his knowledge and approval," Graham said. Graham has also stated that "99 per cent" of US Senators believe Russia interfered in the election. He never named the one per cent who apparently disagrees. (With inputs from Reuters)

US Senator McCain has 'concerns' about Tillerson nomination

tillerson

Tillerson, News on Tillerson, stories on Tillerson, articles on Tillerson, Tillerson stories at Wion, Tillerson news, Tillerson latest news