The leaders of the Persian Gulf states will highlight the Iranian regime’s aggression in the Middle East in an upcoming summit with US President Barack Obama, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir has said.
The summit would also focus on conflicts in Syria and Iraq and on the fighting in Yemen, where a Saudi-led alliance is bombing the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels which controls much of Yemen, he told the SPA news agency.
Mr Al-Jubeir said: “We see Iranian support for terrorist organizations and facilitating the work of terrorist organizations, so the challenge will be in how to coordinate US-Gulf efforts in order to collectively face these aggressive moves on the part of Iran.”
But he stressed that the Camp David summit would emphasize ‘military cooperation, terrorism and Iranian interference in the region’.
He added: “Americans will also explain to Gulf delegates the details of their nuclear deal with Iran.”
The talks come as the US and five other nations are trying to reach an agreement with Tehran by the end of June to curb its nuclear ambitions in exchange for relief from international economic sanctions. The Persian Gulf nations fear that an influx of cash will only facilitate what they see as clerical regime’s aggression.
The White House says a nuclear accord could clear the way for more productive discussions with Iran about its reputed terror links. The US has criticized the Iranian regime’s funding and arming of Hezbollah, as well as terror attacks carried out by the regime’s Quds Force.
Mr Obama also told the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper in a recent exclusive interview: “Iran clearly engages in dangerous and destabilizing behavior in different countries across the region. Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. It helps prop up the Assad regime in Syria.
“It supports Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It aids the Houthi rebels in Yemen. So countries in the region are right to be deeply concerned about Iran’s activities, especially its support for violent proxies inside the borders of other nations.”
The president added: “There should be no doubt about the commitment of the United States to the security of the region and to our GCC partners.
“When it comes to Iran’s future, I cannot predict Iran’s internal dynamics. Within Iran, there are leaders and groups that for decades have defined themselves in opposition to both the United States and our regional partners.”
