Gates Urges Gulf States to ‘Embrace’ Iraq to Put Brakes on Iran

[Turborama]

Source: Bloomberg

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Persian Gulf states to support Iraq as a way to strengthen regional security and as a buffer against Iran.

“The embrace of Iraq by its fellow Gulf states will help contain the ambitions of Iran,” Gates told a Washington conference of top defense officials from 11 countries in the energy-rich region. General David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander for the Middle East and Central Asia, is hosting the event to coordinate on issues such as fighting terrorism and military modernization.

The Obama administration wants Persian Gulf states to cooperate more closely in assisting Iraq’s development as U.S. troops withdraw. American forces have a June 30 deadline under an agreement with Iraq to pull back from urban areas, and all combat troops are due to exit the country by the end of 2011.

The U.S. also has sought to rally regional partners on Iran, which the Bush and Obama administrations have accused of seeking to develop nuclear weapons and supporting militant groups in neighboring countries.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aliYUze9grqE