Kerry to brief Gulf ministers

(MENAFN- Arab News) RIYADH: US Secretary of State John Kerry will hold talks with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Monday and brief them about the Iran nuclear deal that has raised fears and concerns across the Arab world.
The talks are aimed at reassuring Gulf officials that Washington will work with them closely to push back against the Iranian influence in the region.
'On Aug. 3 Kerry will travel to Doha to meet with the GCC foreign ministers' confirmed Lincoln O. Frager a spokesman of the US Embassy in Riyadh.
Frager said that 'the US secretary of state will engage with the GCC foreign ministers on a wide range of security issues affecting the region including the Iran nuclear deal.'
In fact most US allies in the Gulf publicly welcomed the deal between world powers and Tehran over its disputed nuclear program but they accuse Tehran of interfering in Arab conflicts and pushing hard for heightened regional influence.
The talks in the Qatari capital between the GCC officials and Kerry will also focus on a range of key regional issues.
Asked about Kerry's plan to visit other countries of the region Frager said that 'he will be in Cairo on Sunday to co-chair the US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.'
The bilateral dialogue reaffirms the United States' longstanding and enduring partnership with Egypt and will provide a forum to discuss a broad range of political economic security and cultural issues he added.