Updated

Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Egypt as Washington threatens to expand sanctions targeting countries and banks with financial links to Iran. Egyptian and Chinese banks could be affected by the boosted US sanctions regime, which is aimed at curbing Iran's ability to access international finance amid the ongoing conflict. Beijing is reportedly using the visit to shore up relations with US-friendly nations ahead of an anticipated meeting between Xi and Trump, seeking to manage the diplomatic fallout from its economic ties to Iran.