Washington: US President Donald Trump discussed Iran's "destabilising activities" and other security and economic issues in separate telephone calls with senior Saudi and Emirati leaders on Tuesday, the White House said.
In calls with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Trump thanked them for highlighting ways that Gulf Arab states "can better counter Iranian destabilising activities and defeat terrorists and extremists," the White House said.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, along with Bahrain and Egypt, cut off travel and trade ties with Qatar in June, accusing it of supporting terrorism and their arch-rival Iran.
The two crown princes, as well as Qatar's Amir Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, are planning to visit Trump for bilateral meetings in March and April, a senior US official said on Friday.
The agenda for the meetings will include setting up a summit of the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council, the official said, which Washington hopes will be held later this year, as well as Middle East peace and Iran.
Trump also discussed enhancing bilateral partnerships on security and economic issues with the Saudi and Abu Dhabi crown princes, the White House said.