Obama in Saudi Arabia: President seeks to reassure Sunni Gulf allies that US has not gone ‘soft’ on Iran

President Barack Obama has attempted to reassure America’s Sunni Gulf allies that the US has not gone ‘soft’ on Iran in the wake of its controversial nuclear weapons deal as he urged regional leaders to redouble their support in the fight against Isis.

In a reference to Iran during a visit to Saudi Arabia to meet regional Gulf leaders Mr Obama insisted that the US would use “all elements” of its power to “deter and confront external aggression against our allies and our partners”.

And he added: “Even with the nuclear deal we recognise collectively that we continue to have serious concerns about Iranian behaviour.”

Mr Obama has long warned that the rivalry between Iran and the Sunni monarchies of the Gulf has been fuelling conflicts in Iraq and Syria.

The President has called on Gulf states and Iran to forge a “cold peace” to de-escalate tensions in the region.

However his message of solidarity was undermined back in Washington after Democrats in the Senate said they would support a Republican bill that would allow families of September 11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia.

A number of victims’ families believe that the US holds evidence of tacit Saudi support for Osama bin Laden’s attacks on New York and are backing the bill that would allow the Saudi government to be successfully sued in a US court.

But the White House is threatening to veto the bill because they believe it would seriously jeopardise bilateral relations and damage US attempts to persuade the Saudis to play a more active role in the fight against Isis.

While Mr Obama made no reference to the bill after his meeting he admitted that significant tensions between the two countries remained.

“What is true is true with all of our allies and friends is that at any point of time there are going to be differences,” Mr Obama said.

Ben Rhodes, Mr Obama's deputy national security adviser, told reporters at a briefing in Riyadh that strains in ties in recent years reflected differences over tactics rather than goals.

Mr Rhodes said a two-hour meeting with Saudi Arabia's King Salman was the longest the two leaders had shared and included a “very open and honest discussion" that included issues which were a source of tension.

“I think they both agreed that it was good to essentially have this opportunity to clear the air,” he said.

During the visit Mr Obama warned that the ceasefire in Syria - that the US and Russia brokered - was under “tremendous strain,” blaming President Assad's forces in part for what he said were repeated violations.

“It may be breaking down,” the President said.

But he added that it was in the interest of both sides to end violence and come to a sustainable settlement.

“The problem with any Plan B that does not involve a political settlement is that it means more fighting, potentially for years,” he said. “Whoever comes out on top will be standing on top of a country that’s been devastated.”