World leaders laugh as Trump boasts of his gains at UN

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 26 (Agencies): President Donald Trump got some laughter when he addressed world leaders on Tuesday. It wasn't intentional.

The president was highlighting US gains under his watch as he opened his address to the UN General Assembly.

He said the American economy was "booming like never before" and that his administration has accomplished more in less than two years than almost any other administration.

His boast elicited laughter from the scores of heads of state and delegates in the audience for the speech.

Trump, who has long claimed that his predecessors' weak leadership prompted other nations "to laugh" at the US. appeared flustered and responded, "I didn't expect that reaction, but that's OK."

Later, as he was leaving the UN, he told reporters that he had meant to be funny.

"Oh it was great, well, that was meant to get some laughter, so it was great," he said.

In his speech, Trump said the US is a "stronger, safer and richer country" than when he took office in January 2017.

He said "we are standing up for America and for the American people, and we are also standing up for the world."

A little further into his speech, German diplomats appeared bemused by Trump's latest swipe at their country as he reiterated his criticism of Germany's planned undersea gas pipeline from Russia.

After the president's warning that "Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course," cameras showed German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas gently shaking his head, while senior diplomats smiled.

Some in the audience also grumbled during Trump's remarks when he said "we reject the ideology" of globalism. When Trump criticized socialism, a member of the Swedish delegation frowned with disapproval.

Another report adds: US President Donald Trump should stop interfering in the Middle East if he wants the price of oil to stop rising, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

"Mr Trump is trying to seriously reduce exports of Iran's oil and also ensure the price of oil does not go up, but these two cannot happen together," Zanganeh said, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency.

"If he wants the price of oil not to go up and the market not to get destabilized, he should stop unwarranted and disruptive interference in the Middle East and not be an obstacle to the production and export of Iran's oil."

Trump, not the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is behind the recent rise in prices, Zanganeh said.

"Trump blames OPEC for what he has created and caused: the rise of the price of oil and disturbance in the market."

OPEC members do not have the capacity to increase production, Zanganeh said.

In a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday, Trump reiterated calls on OPEC to pump more oil and stop raising prices. He also accused Iran of sowing chaos and promised further sanctions on the country.

The United States will apply sanctions to halt oil exports from Iran, the third-largest producer in OPEC, starting onNov. 4. The pending loss of Iranian supply has been a major factor in the recent surge in crude prices.