Kerry Tries to Reassure Gulf Allies Over Iran Deal

posted on: Mar 5, 2015

Secretary of State John Kerry met with Saudi King Salman and Gulf foreign ministers in Riyadh today to brief them on the U.S.-led negotiations with Iran. The meetings came one day after Kerry wrapped up the latest round of talks with Iranian officials, and only weeks before a deadline to reach the political framework for a deal. Kerry reportedly attempted to reassure the Gulf officials that any agreement would stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and that the United States had not wavered in its commitment to confront Iranian expansionism across the Middle East.

The next round of talks is scheduled to begin on March 15, when Kerry will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.

Washington increasingly relying on Iran to fight its battles in Iraq

While the United States says it is not coordinating with Iran in the struggle against the Islamic State, it finds itself in an implicit alliance with Tehran and its allies in Iraq. U.S. war planners are monitoring radio frequencies to better understand the Iranian war effort, while both sides discuss their plans with Iraqi command centers to ensure that their efforts do not conflict.

Source: foreignpolicy.com