The Obama administration tread warily Monday around inflamed tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia that threaten several key US foreign policy objectives.
The White House says Secretary of State John Kerry spoke yesterday with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, while the official Saudi Press Agency reported that Kerry spoke today with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
US officials say the administration is loath to insert itself into the row between Riyadh and Tehran but wants to ensure the viability of the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, nascent attempts to end Syria’s civil war and the Iran nuclear deal.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest calls on both countries to show restraint and avoid further inflaming sectarian tensions between Sunni-led Saudi Arabia and Shiite-ruled Iran. He urges Saudi Arabia and Iran not to let the conflict derail fragile talks aimed at securing a cease-fire and a political transition to end the war in Syria.
“Hopefully they will continue to engage,” Earnest says. “It is so clearly in the interests of both countries to advance a political solution to the situation inside of Syria.”
— AP
White House Spokesman Josh Earnest during a press briefing, September 22, 2014 (screen capture: YouTube/The White House)
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