UAE, Bahrain support US exit from Iran deal

Two more Gulf Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, express support for US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

The UAE says the agreement didn’t guarantee Iran would refrain from pursuing a nuclear weapon in the future.

Bahrain, which has accused Iran of arming and training Shiite Bahraini protesters with the aim of destabilizing the Sunni-ruled country, said late last night that Trump’s decision reflects the US commitment to confront Iran’s “continuous attempts to spread terrorism in the region.”

Saudi Arabia — one of Iran’s staunchest regional foes — earlier rushed to express its support for Trump’s decision, saying Iran had exploited the economic benefits of sanctions being lifted to continue its destabilizing activities.

Oman, a Gulf Arab nation that helped mediate talks between the US and Iran that eventually led to the deal, says it “values the stance of the five partners (P5+1) to adhere to this agreement, thus contributing to regional and international security and stability,” referring to the agreement’s co-signers — Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — all of which had urged the US to adhere to the deal.

— AP