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Obama Seeks To Reassure Saudi Arabia Over Iran, Syria


U.S. President Barack Obama has held talks with King Abdullah in Riyadh amid tensions between the two countries over Iran's nuclear program and the civil war in Syria.

After the two-hour meeting, a White House statement underscored the "strong" bilateral relationship.

Unnamed U.S. officials said Obama had made it clear that the two countries' strategic interests remained "very much aligned."

They also said Obama told the king he would not accept a "bad deal" on Iran.

Senior Saudi officials warned last year of a "major shift" away from Washington after disagreements over efforts to negotiate with Iran and Washington's decision not to intervene militarily in Syria.

Saudi Arabia wants more American support for rebels.

Secretary of State John Kerry and national security chief Susan Rice attended the meeting.
Based on reporting by Reuters and BBC

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