Our SOB allies tell Obama, A'jad is a bigger bastard than us, we need an ally...WHO ARE YOU?

Saudis weigh alternative alliances as U.S. pursues opening with Iran

WASHINGTON -- The United States faces increasing opposition from Gulf Arab allies to its new dialogue with Iran.

Officials acknowledged that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council states have relayed messages of deep concern over the new Iranian policy of President Barack Obama. They said the six GCC states, which have been key energy and military allies of Washington, believed that they would be the first victims of any U.S. reconciliation with Teheran.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, center, at Riyadh Airport with Charge d' Affaires David Rundell, 2nd left, and Ibrahim Al-Malik, Director of Saudi Arabia's Armed Forces Public Affairs on May 5. Reuters/Jason Reed

Saudi Arabia has also sent warnings that it would build alliances with countries other than the United States.

Officials said Riyad has been discussing strategic relations with Britain, China, India, Pakistan and Russia.

"While we're willing to reach out to the Iranians, as the president said, with an open hand, I think everybody in the administration from the president on down is pretty realistic and will be pretty tough-minded if we still encounter a closed fist," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

On May 4, Gates launched a Middle East tour designed to assuage GCC states of U.S. policy toward Iran. The defense secretary acknowledged that Gulf Arab allies, particularly Saudi Arabia, have been bracing for the emergence of close relations between Teheran and Washington.

"One important message will be, particularly for the Saudis, that any kind of outreach to Iran will not be at the expense of our long-term relationships with Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states that have been our partners and friends for decades," Gates said. "There's probably some concerns in the region that may draw on an exaggerated sense of what's possible."

Officials said the administration has sought to reassure GCC states that the United States would maintain its military presence in the Gulf. They said Gates and other senior administration representatives have also stressed that the White House would press Israel to accept the Saudi plan for peace with the Arab states and Palestinians.

"The Saudis in particular have considerable influence in Pakistan," Gates said.