U.S. Secretary of State Visits with Gulf Nations over Iran Nuclear Deal
FOSTER: You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me Max Foster. Welcome back to you. Now getting a nuclear deal with Iran was hard enough, but the work is far from over for U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. He's in Qatar today trying to convince wary members of the Gulf Cooperation Council that the deal will be a good thing for the region. And this just crossed a short time ago on Reuters: Qatar's foreign minister reportedly saying Gulf Arab states are confident that the Iran nuclear deal makes the region safer. Let's take a closer look at what sort of assurances the Gulf states are looking for from U.S. Secretary of State. Fawaz Gerges is with me now, professor of Middle East studies at the London School of Economics, author of the new middle east protest and revolution in the Arab World. Thank you for joining us. It's kind of baffling some of the language coming out from the Gulf, because you would have thought they'd be vehemently against the Iran deal on any level.</s>FAWAZ GERGES, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: Yeah, and they have been.</s>FOSTER: So why are they saying it's going to make the region safer?</s>GERGES: Because first of all Qatar does not really speak for the entire I mean Gulf region, does not speak for Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates. And also, I think, the Gulf states have decided to accept the assurances by President Obama and his advisers that the United States will ensure their security, that the United States will make sure that Iran does not really aggress against their own interests. So, all in all, I think unlike Israel which basically still opposes the agreement, the Gulf states while publicly say they welcome the agreement, they basically press the American officials to provide security guarantees. And what do I mean by that? Huge, massive arms deals, qualitative deals. Last week, Max, Saudi Arabia and the United States signed an arms deal, $5 billion, which includes qualitative strategic weapons that the United States will provide Saudi Arabia. Egypt just received a huge military contracts, including jet fighters, and of course the United Arab Emirates will be getting also arms from the United States.</s>FOSTER: Just quickly, if we look at a statement from the foreign minister before the meeting with Kerry saying, "we look forward with hopes at the nuclear agreement leading to the preservation of security and stability in the region, and we emphasize the importance of cooperation with Iran based on principles of good neighborliness, non-interference in internal affairs and solving disputes peacefully." So it does feel as if Kerry is moving around this region and almost negotiating with each country as he goes along.</s>GERGES: I think this is what -- this is absolutely correct. Kerry is reiterating the American message that the United States will not basically allow Iran to dominate the region, that the United States will ensure security for its allies in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar and Saudi Arabia. And the Americans are really basically reiterating this message and also providing weapons, massive weapons, and in addition to public -- I mean, pronouncement as well.</s>FOSTER: This is getting a lot of the headlines, but you pointed out that there's actually this side meeting as well with the Russian foreign minister. And do you think there's something going on there?</s>GERGES: Max, forget everything. There is nothing new on the Iranian nuclear agreement, there's nothing new on the war against ISIS, the most important meeting will take place today between Kerry, the American foreign secretary, the Russian foreign secretary and the Saudi foreign secretary. The topic is Syria. A few weeks ago we learned that President Barack Obama received a call from the Russian president. The Russian president said he was concerned about the security of the Syrian regime. And obviously the Americans and Russians are trying to find ways and means to deal with the presidency of Assad. Obviously, the beginning of a breakthrough on Syria. And the trio meeting between the Saudis, who are a major player in Syria, the Russians, the major supporters of Syria, and the Americans it's about finding ways and means to see whether somehow they can bridge the differences vis-a-vis Assad.</s>FOSTER: The Americans and the Saudis obviously work very closely together and cooperate very closely on all manner of international affairs. What's interesting, presumably is that the Russians are getting involved. And there's some common ground between the three of them.</s>GERGES: Absolutely. And this is...</s>FOSTER: Which could be a breakthrough.</s>GERGES: Absolutely. Not only the Russians, the Americans are also, Max, are saying, or hoping that since the -- an agreement has been concluded between Iran and the United States, that the Iranians also will change their minds about what's happening in Syria. So, the Americans in particular this Barack Obama is working with the Saudis and the Russians...</s>FOSTER: But where's the common ground between the three -- what specifically do you think...</s>GERGES: I think political transition, a, and a finding...</s>FOSTER: Assad?</s>GERGES: Assad. So really trying to convince -- I mean, if Russia plays I mean by the American you know whatever -- I mean, this could really represent -- and this is the beginning. But the Russians, this is the big point, the Russians are concerned that basically the opposition, the militant Islamist oppositions, have made some major breakthrough, major gains against Assad, the Syrian army is under tremendous duress, as we well know, in the last few months. So they're trying to basically find ways and means with the Americans to find a political solution. It's all about Assad.</s>FOSTER: So, if he's on the way out, would they -- who -- are they going to be able to agree on who do they think should replace him?</s>GERGES: The agreement, everyone agrees on the need for a transitional -- a transitional political executive authority and will be made of elements of the regime and also some of the opposition. This is really what's going to happen. You're not going to have one person. There is no one person. It's a -- basically a transitional executive authority that will include members of the opposition, most of the opposition, the acceptable opposition to the international community and elements of the Assad regime. Final point, everyone is trying to maintain Syrian institutions, because you don't need security vacuum. The Russians are concerned. A security vacuum will be filled by whom? By militant Islamist elements. And that's why the meeting today in Qatar, we should keep our eyes on this meeting. I mean, Kerry, the Russian foreign minister and the Saudi foreign minister, could really represent the beginning of a process that leads to a political settlement still early to really say definitely.</s>FOSTER: But it could be historic. Thank you very much indeed Fawaz. Live from London, this is Connect the World. Coming up, grief and outrage over the stabbing to death of a 16-year-old girl. We'll go live to Israel where mourners are gathering for her funeral. Plus, did some Olympic athletes win by doping? We look at the latest allegations to hit athletics next.