Obama seeks to reassure Gulf countries over Iran

Washington, April 3,   (dpa/GNA) - US President Barack Obama Thursday invited the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to meet with him in the United States in an effort to reassure them of their security against any threat from Iran.

Obama extended the invitation in his remarks welcoming the breakthrough on a nuclear deal with Iran.

The international negotiations with Shiite Iran have been met with nervousness among its largely Sunni neighbours across the Gulf - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain - given the foment in the region from Iran-backed militant groups in Lebanon, Palestinian Gaza and elsewhere.

Obama said he had already spoken with Saudi King Salman "to reaffirm our commitment to the security of our partners in the Gulf."

He invited the GCC members to meet "this spring" at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, outside Washington.

He proposed to discuss how to strengthen security cooperation "while resolving the multiple conflicts that have caused so much hardship and instability throughout the Middle East."

Obama emphasized that the US does not intend to stand down from its sanctions against Iran over Tehran's "support of terrorism, its human rights abuses, its ballistic missile programme."

The nuclear deal foresees easing of international economic sanctions only over Iran's nuclear programme, Obama noted.

"Our concerns will remain with respect to Iranian behavior so long as Iran continues its sponsorship of terrorism, its support for proxies who destabilize the Middle East, its threats against America's friends and allies, like Israel," Obama said.

"So make no mistake, we will remain vigilant in countering those actions and standing with our allies."

Obama said he planned to speak later Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said it was "no secret" that he and Netanyahu disagree about a peaceful resolution to the Iranian issue.

Obama said he would reassure the Israel prime minister that "there will be no daylight, there is no daylight" when it comes to US support for Israel's security and its shared concerns "about Iran's destabilizing policies and threats towards Israel."

"If in fact Prime Minister Netanyahu is looking for the most effective way to ensure Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon, this is the best option," Obama said.

GNA