Qatar | Kerry pushes Iran nuke deal with wary Arabs

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry brought the Obama administration’s case for the Iran nuclear deal to wary Arab officials in Qatar yesterday.
Kerry was meeting with the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the six-member bloc of Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab nations that fear Shiite Iran’s increasing assertiveness in the region and the implications of the agreement. In addition to Iran, the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Yemen were high on the agenda.
Opening the meeting, Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid al-Attiya said the gathering was being held in “very exceptional circumstances and challenges that have been unprecedented.”
“We are facing many challenges in our communities and we are aiming to achieve peace and security and stability with the help of the United States,” he said. He stressed the importance of keeping the region free “of any threats of nuclear weapons” and “the importance of the use of nuclear energy and technology for peaceful purposes” only.
U.S. officials rejected suggestions that Kerry was not visiting Israel this week because the administration has given up hope on convincing Netanyahu of the merits of the agreement. Kerry’s main goal, however, is to follow up on a May meeting that President Barack Obama hosted for Arab leaders at Camp David. At that meeting, Obama promised Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates enhanced security cooperation and expedited defense sales to guard against a potential Iranian threat.
Just last week, the State Department authorized the sale to Saudi Arabia of USD5.4 billion in Patriot missiles and related equipment along with $500 million in ammunition. Saudi Arabia is the largest and most influential member of the council and has been publicly supportive of the Iran deal, albeit with reservations.
Kerry has acknowledged concerns about Iran’s behavior in the Middle East but says it would be easier to deal with if Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. He said the agreement struck by world powers with Iran in Vienna last month is the best way to do that. Matthew Lee, Diplomatic Writer, Doha, AP