China on Monday warned that continued escalation between Iran and Israel risks destabilizing the Middle East, following a surge in hostilities that has left scores dead in both countries.

The USS Nimitz strike group is deploying to the Middle East amid ongoing strikes between Israel and Iran that threaten to develop into a broader conflict, a U.S. defense official confirmed Monday.

A major U.S. aircraft carrier is currently en route to the Middle East, amid fears that violence is set to escalate between Israel and Iran

The U.S. leader indicated that he would rather have the G7 become the G8 or possibly even the G9, although Russia and China would notably be authoritarian governments in an organization whose members are democracies.

Russia was once in the exclusive club of major economies but was kicked out following its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The US president has also said he' wouldn't mind' China joining the G7.The summit is held against the backdrop of a climate of global economic uncertainty and the Israel- Iran conflict. Trump has said throwing Russia out of the then G8 was a "mistake" Trump "wouldn't mind" China joining the group Trump meanwhile said Iran should talk "before it's too late" A draft of