Lobbying 2015: Saudis seek Iran deal payoff
Gravely concerned by the nuclear deal with Iran, Saudi Arabia is relying on its $3.7 million-a-year PR and lobbying operation to leverage it for more US commitments instead of seeking to sabotage it.
Riyadh is banking on its deep ties with defense contractors and congressional hawks to avoid getting left at the altar as Washington flirts with Tehran.
While Saudi Arabia and Israel expressed the deepest skepticism throughout the nuclear talks, the desert kingdom dropped its opposition once the deal was signed. In exchange, the Saudis are expecting a significant military and diplomatic payoff.
The campaign is showing early signs of success.
President Barack Obama promised increased US military support against Iran and a "renewed commitment to a concept of a Gulf-wide ballistic missile defense capability" during his Gulf Cooperation Council summit in May. And as soon as the deal was signed, he dispatched Defense Secretary Ash Carter to Riyadh to convince the Saudis that he would deliver.
