Obama vows to ‘stand by’ Gulf allies amid concern over Iran threat

CAMP DAVID – President Barack Obama vowed on Thursday to back Gulf allies against any “external attack,” seeking to reassure them of Washington’s iron-clad commitment to their security amid Arab anxiety over U.S.-led efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran.

Hosting the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council for a rare summit at Camp David, Obama pledged that the United States would consider using military force to defend them and would also help counter Iran’s “destabilising activities in the region.”

“I am reaffirming our iron-clad commitment to the security of our Gulf partners,” Obama told a closing news conference at the presidential retreat outside Washington.

Obama stopped short of offering a formal defence treaty that some Gulf countries had sought. Instead he announced more modest measures, including integrating ballistic missile defence systems, beefing up cyber and maritime security, streamlining weapons sales and increasing joint military exercises.

The United States and five other world powers are seeking to reach a final deal with Iran on curbing its nuclear programme by a June 30 deadline. The GCC agreed in a joint communique that a “comprehensive, verifiable” accord with Tehran would be in their security interests.

But Obama did not go as far as saying the Sunni Arab states had committed to backing the outcome of the talks with Iran, their Shi’ite arch-rival. The Saudi foreign minister made clear, in fact, that his government was withholding judgment for now.

Obama also sought to allay Gulf Arab concerns that the potential lifting of international sanctions on Tehran would embolden it to fuel more sectarian strife in the region.