Kerry to Visit Gulf Arab States, Convinces Allies with Iran Nuke Deal

Local Editor

US Secretary of State John Kerry will seek to reassure Gulf Arab officials at a meeting in Qatar soon that Washington will work with them to "push back" against Iranian influence in the region.

Most US allies in the energy-rich Gulf publicly welcomed a deal between world powers and Tehran over its disputed nuclear program, but they accuse Tehran of interfering in Arab conflicts and pushing hard for heightened regional influence.

"I will be traveling to Doha in the next couple of weeks to meet with the whole [Gulf Cooperation Council]," Kerry said on Wednesday. He was referring to a group of countries comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

"I think we can persuade them both that by being more effective in our counter-push as well as through the restraints we have, they will be significantly strengthened going forward."

Leader of the Islamic Revolution his Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei told supporters Saturday that US policies in the region were "180 degrees" opposed to Iran's and his country would continue to back its allies in Arab states.
In fact, a number of America's friends in the region backed the deal.

However, "Israel" implacably opposed, and Arab allies of the United States such as Saudi Arabia are suspicious of an arrangement that would benefit Iran.

Kerry's diplomatic outreach follows a summit with Gulf Arab leaders called by US President Barack Obama at Camp David in May, which was snubbed by the leaders of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Despite their misgivings, Kerry said, the United States aimed to convince its allies the deal was in their interests.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team