WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States will bolster allies in the Middle East with ballistic missile defense capabilities and special forces training to counter potential Iranian adventurism in the region following the singing of the nuclear agreement with Tehran, President Barack Obama stated in a speech on Wednesday.
“If we are serious about confronting Iran’s destabilizing activities… we need to check the behavior that we are concerned about directly by helping our allies in the region strengthen their own capabilities to counter a cyber-attack or ballistic missile, by improving the interdiction of weapons shipments… by training our allies’ special forces,” Obama said.
Obama delivered the speech at American University in Washington, DC as part of his efforts to drum-up support for the Iran nuclear agreement.
The United States is seeking to reassure regional allies, including Arab Gulf states, by expanding defense cooperation, including providing them with anti-ballistic missile systems, special forces training as well as intelligence sharing and weapons interdiction.
In late July 2015, the United States approved a possible $5.5 billion military sale of advanced Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia.
Key states such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia have already voiced support for the deal with their regional adversary Iran as US officials lobby the region to gain support for the nuclear agreement.
