US President Barack Obama has reached out to some of his key allies in the Middle East and Europe on the successful conclusion of marathon negotiations with Iran on the latter’s controversial nuclear programme.
Obama spoke with Saudi King Salman, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, his French counterpart Francois Holland, UAE Crown Prince Mohammed Al Nahyan and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Obama affirmed that the deal will verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon by cutting off all of the potential pathways to a bomb while ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme going forward, the White House said.
In his call to Netanyahu, the White House said, Obama underscored his Administration’s stalwart commitment to Israel’s security and noted that the it will remove the specter of a nuclear-armed Iran, an outcome in the national security interest of the United States and Israel. Obama told him that the agreement on the nuclear issue will not diminish their concerns regarding Iran’s support for terrorism and threats toward Israel.
The President noted that Defence Secretary Ash Carter’s visit next week to Israel is a reflection of the unprecedented level of security cooperation between the US and Israel, and that the visit offers a further opportunity to continue their close consultation on security issues with Israeli counterparts.