US wins support from GCC, Asian allies for Iran nuclear deal
Israel is outlier on nuclear deal; Rafsanjani tells Al-Monitor that Iran “does not inherently have any issues with Saudi Arabia”; Zarif proposes civil nuclear cooperation with Arab states; Syrian, Iranian and Russian officials meet in Tehran; Al-Monitor’s second annual Middle East lobbying investigation and cultural heritage series.
Overwhelming international support for Iran deal
The Obama administration this week scored two major international endorsements for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), leaving Israel as an outlier among America’s allies in opposing the Iran nuclear deal.
The Joint Statement of the US-GCC Foreign Ministers in Doha meeting Aug. 3 read: “Reiterating the position expressed at Camp David that 'a comprehensive, verifiable deal that fully addresses the regional and international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program is in the security interests of GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] member states as well as the United States and the international community,' the ministers agreed that, once fully implemented, the JCPOA contributes to the region’s long-term security, including by preventing Iran from developing or acquiring a military nuclear capability.”
With the US-GCC meeting in Doha, the Obama administration seems on course on its approach to deepening US security cooperation with the GCC as a means to reassure and win over its Arab Gulf allies to support the Iran nuclear deal, a process that began at the Camp David summit May 14 and was discussed in this column.
