JEDDAH - The United States on Wednesday urged Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbors to unite in confronting common threats such as Iran, even as the Arab states struggle to overcome divisions over Qatar's support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
"The most pressing security challenges threaten this region as a whole - and they demand a collective response," US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said during opening remarks of a meeting of defense ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
"This approach is how the region must continue to address the threats posed by Iran," he said.