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| White House says Saudi foreign minister welcomed landmark deal with Iran | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The foreign minister of Saudi Arabia welcomed a nuclear accord with Iran during a meeting with Barack Obama on Friday, according to the White House. | The foreign minister of Saudi Arabia welcomed a nuclear accord with Iran during a meeting with Barack Obama on Friday, according to the White House. |
| Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, confirmed that Obama met with Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir on Friday morning, upon the request Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. Obama had spoken with the Saudi monarch on Tuesday, after six world powers and Iran reached a landmark deal aimed at reining in Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. | Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, confirmed that Obama met with Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir on Friday morning, upon the request Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. Obama had spoken with the Saudi monarch on Tuesday, after six world powers and Iran reached a landmark deal aimed at reining in Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. |
| “As a result of that request, the president did sit down and have a discussion with the Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir to discuss a range of regional and bilateral issues, including the recent historic agreement that was announced this week,” Earnest told reporters Friday at his daily press briefing. | “As a result of that request, the president did sit down and have a discussion with the Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir to discuss a range of regional and bilateral issues, including the recent historic agreement that was announced this week,” Earnest told reporters Friday at his daily press briefing. |
| “The foreign minister and the president also talked about the important bilateral relationship that exists between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and there was a discussion about how to further enhance that close and longstanding partnership.” | “The foreign minister and the president also talked about the important bilateral relationship that exists between the United States and Saudi Arabia, and there was a discussion about how to further enhance that close and longstanding partnership.” |
| The meeting was Obama’s first with a key US ally in the Middle East since the agreement with Iran was struck earlier this week. | The meeting was Obama’s first with a key US ally in the Middle East since the agreement with Iran was struck earlier this week. |
| Saudi leaders have been openly critical of negotiations with Tehran, expressing their doubt that it will actually deter Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. | Saudi leaders have been openly critical of negotiations with Tehran, expressing their doubt that it will actually deter Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. |
| They also fear that through the easing of economic sanctions and eventual lifting of the arms embargo, Iran would expand its regional prowess – potentially upending the balance of power in the Middle East. | They also fear that through the easing of economic sanctions and eventual lifting of the arms embargo, Iran would expand its regional prowess – potentially upending the balance of power in the Middle East. |
| Obama hosted Gulf Cooperation Council leaders at Camp David in May, a rare meeting that served as part of the president’s efforts to reassure skeptics of an accord with Iran. Ash Carter, the US secretary of defense, is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia next week, where the White House said he will continue the discussions “to further enhance the close and long standing partnership between our two countries and build Saudi Arabia’s security capabilities”. | Obama hosted Gulf Cooperation Council leaders at Camp David in May, a rare meeting that served as part of the president’s efforts to reassure skeptics of an accord with Iran. Ash Carter, the US secretary of defense, is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia next week, where the White House said he will continue the discussions “to further enhance the close and long standing partnership between our two countries and build Saudi Arabia’s security capabilities”. |
| The White House added that Obama and the Saudi foreign minister also “reviewed efforts to jointly address and seek to resolve regional crises”. | The White House added that Obama and the Saudi foreign minister also “reviewed efforts to jointly address and seek to resolve regional crises”. |
| “They discussed the urgency of stopping the fighting in Yemen and the importance of ensuring that assistance is reaching Yemenis in need through international humanitarian channels without any impediments or delays. They discussed cooperation to reach a genuine political solution in Syria. They also reaffirmed our mutual commitment to reinforce efforts to support Iraq and continue the coalition’s work in the counter-Isil campaign.” | “They discussed the urgency of stopping the fighting in Yemen and the importance of ensuring that assistance is reaching Yemenis in need through international humanitarian channels without any impediments or delays. They discussed cooperation to reach a genuine political solution in Syria. They also reaffirmed our mutual commitment to reinforce efforts to support Iraq and continue the coalition’s work in the counter-Isil campaign.” |
| Obama has vigorously defended the nuclear deal, pointing out that its critics have yet to provide their own solution | Obama has vigorously defended the nuclear deal, pointing out that its critics have yet to provide their own solution |
| “There really are only two alternatives here: either Iran getting a nuclear weapon is resolved diplomatically through negotiation,” Obama said in a press conference on Wednesday. “Or it is resolved through force, through war. Those are the options.” | “There really are only two alternatives here: either Iran getting a nuclear weapon is resolved diplomatically through negotiation,” Obama said in a press conference on Wednesday. “Or it is resolved through force, through war. Those are the options.” |