奥巴马主持美海湾峰会讨论伊朗和中东局势

U.S. President Barack Obama and senior officials from six Gulf nations are continuing their summit Thursday on issues in the Middle East, including a potential nuclear deal with Iran and the fighting in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya.

The talks with the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council began with a working dinner Wednesday night at the White House before shifting Thursday to the Camp David presidential retreat about 100 kilometers north of Washington.

Mr. Obama said the meetings come during what he called a "very challenging time" in the Gulf region.

His deputy national security advisor, Ben Rhodes, told Alhurra on Wednesday that one of the goals of the summit is to examine military capabilities and ways for the Gulf countries to both work together and with the United States.

Gulf states have expressed concern about the ongoing nuclear negotiations with regional rival Iran and want to upgrade their security relationship with the U.S. They are worried that a deal would boost Iranian prestige in the region and weaken U.S. ties with other Gulf states, particularly in military matters.

White House spokesman John Earnest said Wednesday the U.S. values its security ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council.

在星期三举行的白宫工作晚宴上，奥巴马开始与海湾合作委员会成员国高级官员展开会谈，星期四的会谈将转至位于华盛顿以北约100公里的总统度假地戴维营。

奥巴马说，这次会议召开之际，海湾地区正面临一个“非常具有挑战性的时刻”。

奥巴马的副国家安全顾问罗德斯星期三说，此次峰会的目的之一评估海湾国家的军事能力及它们之间以及和美国的合作方式。

海湾国家对目前美国与海湾国家区域对手伊朗进行核谈判表示担忧，并希望提升与美国的安全关系。这些国家担心核协议将提高伊朗在本地区的声望，同时削弱美国与其他海湾国家的关系，尤其是在军事领域的关系。

白宫发言人欧内斯特星期三说，美国很看重与海湾合作委员会的安全关系。