Kerry tries to ease concerns about warming US-Iran relations

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia  — Secretary of State John Kerry met with Gulf Arab officials on Saturday to ease their concerns about warming U.S.-Iranian ties and to seek consensus on which Syrian opposition groups should be represented at upcoming peace talks.

 

Kerry and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir presented a united front when they spoke at a news conference after a meeting of foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council.

 

The Gulf states have sided with the kingdom in its spat with Iran and backed the rebels fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, a key ally of the Islamic Republic.

 

Kerry and al-Jubeir said the U.S. and the GCC agreed on the need to confront destabilizing Iranian activities in the region and on an unspecified “understanding” that will allow the U.N.-led Syria negotiations to begin next week as planned.

 

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