US President Barack Obama called American allies in the Middle East in an attempt to assuage their fears about the nuclear deal with Iran.
President Barack Obama called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the signing of the nuclear deal between the P5+1 powers, lead by the Obama administration, and the Islamic Republic in an attempt to assure Netanyahu that the deal won’t lessen US concerns about Iran’s support for terrorism and its threats toward Israel.
Obama reiterated that the deal, in his view, will prevent Iran from becoming nuclear-armed, which is of interest to both the US and Israel.
Obama added that a planned visit to Israel next week by US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter is a reflection of the high level of security cooperation between the two allies.
Netanyahu emphasized during the call that the deal raises “two main dangers: It will allow Iran to arm itself with nuclear weapons — if it keeps to the deal, at the end of the 10-15 years; if it breaks it, before then,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.
“In addition, it will pump hundreds of billions of dollars into the Iranian terror and war machine which threatens Israel and the entire world,” the statement quoted Netanyahu as telling Obama.
Earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu blasted the deal as a “stunning historic mistake” and pointedly noted that his country is not bound by the agreement.
Obama Courts Gulf States
President Obama. (AP/Charles Dharapak)
Obama has been discussing the Iran deal with other allies in the Middle East.
The White House stated that Obama telephoned Saudi’s King Salman on Tuesday while he was on his way to Philadelphia to give a speech.
Obama also reached out to Crown Prince Mohammed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The White House said Obama recalled the summit he held earlier this year with Persian Gulf nations, and restated that the US remains committed to working with them to counter Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region.
Saudi Arabia’s state news agency says the kingdom has warned Iran not to use money that will follow from the lifting of sanctions to incite turmoil in the region, and that it must use the funds in the service of the Iranian people.
The statement says the kingdom has always stressed the importance of reaching a deal that would prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and contain mechanisms for permanent inspections of nuclear sites and for re-imposition of sanctions if Iran violates the terms.
By: AP and United with Israel Staff
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