News / Foreign Policy

US goal not to marginalize Iran: Obama

Thursday, 14 May 2015 10:26 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 15 May 2015 11:30 AM ]

Obama (2nd, L) is sitting before the start of a working session of a summit meeting with leaders of the PGCC at Camp David in Maryland on May 14, 2015. (AFP Photo)

President Barack Obama has said the the United States' goal is not to “marginalize” Iran amid some Arab states’ concern over a possible nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.

Obama made the remarks on Thursday after a Camp David summit during which the US and six Persian Gulf leaders agreed to strengthen their military and security cooperation.

"The purpose of security cooperation is not to perpetuate any long-term confrontation with Iran or even to marginalize Iran," Obama told reporters.

Obama was hosting emirs and crown princes of Persian Gulf Arab states at the White House as part of the US-Arab meeting at Camp David.

Obama said that the US agreed to deepen its military partnership with the Arab states in the face of Iran’s growing role in the region.

"I am reaffirming our ironclad commitment to the security of our (Persian) Gulf partners,” he said.

"As we've declared in our joint statement, the United States is prepared to work jointly with (P)GCC member states to deter and confront an external threat to any (P)GCC state's territorial integrity that is inconsistent with the UN charter," the president added.

Obama and the Arab leaders issued a statement, stating they will try to “improve security cooperation, especially on fast-tracking arms transfers, as well as on counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber security, and ballistic missile defense."

In an interview with a Saudi newspaper published on Wednesday, Obama accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism and engaging in dangerous behavior in different countries across the region.

“Iran clearly engages in dangerous and destabilizing behavior in different countries across the region. Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism,” Obama was quoted as saying by the London-based Ashraq Al-Awsat newspaper, which is controlled by Saudi King Salman’s sons.

AT/AT

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