Kerry in Qatar to Assure Arab Allies over Iran Nuclear Deal

Mon Aug 3, 2015 12:49:27

US Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Qatar to hold talks with the foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) in order to allay their concerns over the Iran nuclear agreement, Press TV reports.

Kerry landed in Doha on Sunday night after visiting Cairo, where he met with Egyptian officials to resume a US-Egypt “strategic dialogue” that was suspended following the 2011 revolution.

In Egypt, Kerry once again defended the conclusion of nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.

"There can be absolutely no question that if the Vienna plan is fully implemented, it will make Egypt and all the countries of this region safer than they otherwise would be or were," Kerry said in a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on Sunday.

Iran and the P5+1 group -- the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany –  reached a conclusion on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the Austrian capital of Vienna on July 14.

According to the text of the JCPOA, Iran will be recognized by the United Nations as a nuclear power and will continue its uranium enrichment program.

But some restrictions will be placed on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the removal of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The top US diplomat will hold meetings with his six Persian Gulf counterparts in the Qatari capital to lessen their fears about the nuclear accord.

"This is an opportunity, really, for the secretary to do a deep dive with the [P]GCC foreign ministers to try to respond to any remaining questions that they might have and hopefully to satisfy them and ensure that they're supporting our effort going forward," a State Department official said.

PGCC member states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

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