Jordan's king visits US on ties, regional issues

WASHINGTON - Visiting King Abdullah II of Jordan met on Monday with US Vice President Mike Pence and other senior administration officials, discussing bilateral ties and regional issues, among others.

Pence discussed with King Abdullah about the bilateral relationship, the fight against the Islamic State (IS) and regional dynamics, said a statement from the White House.

The two also talked about US President Donald Trump's decision "to maintain a residual US presence in Syria," the statement added.

Also on Monday, the king held talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan separately, discussing regional security issues, according to statements provided by the US State and Defense departments.

The king reportedly held a 45-minute meeting with President Trump's Middle East peace team, including Pompeo, Trump's senior advisor Jared Kushner and US Mideast envoy Jason Greenblatt, at the Jordanian ambassador's residence on Monday.

On Sunday, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced resuming the fight against the last redoubt of the IS in eastern Syria after a deadline was given to the IS and their families.

It is reported that the White House is preparing to roll out its long-promised peace deal for the Middle East, which Trump called the "deal of the century."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has confirmed that the Palestinian side would neither hold talks with the Trump administration nor accept it as a peace mediator before it backs down on its decision on Jerusalem.

In December 2017, the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, an unconventional step sparking global outcry and Palestinians' rejection of the US mediation role.