Obama vows to address Iran’s ‘destabilising’ role in Middle East

Washington: US President Barack Obama on Monday said he would continue to work with US partners to address Iran’s “destabilising activities” in the Middle East, even as details of a nuclear deal with Tehran are thrashed out.

During a phone call with Oman’s Sultan Qaboos, Obama pledged to work “with Oman and other regional partners to address Iran’s destabilising activities in the region,” the White House said.

Obama’s call was part of a drive to convince skeptical allies that a tentative deal over Iran’s nuclear program does not signify a softening of US opposition to Iran’s role in the region.

Arab states accuse Iran of fueling a series of proxy battles in the Middle East that have destabilised Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon and other states.

Obama has invited leaders of the several Gulf states to Camp David in the near future in a bid to assuage their concerns.

He told Oman’s leader that the months leading up to an end-of-June deadline will be used to finalise technical details to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, the White House said in a statement.