Saudi Arabia and Bahrain monarchs to snub Washington summit

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has announced he will not attend a meeting to be hosted by US President Barack Obama on Thursday.

The news is a major blow to Washington’s efforts to securing support from Arab countries in a bid to reach an agreement over Iran’s nuclear programme.

The decision by the Saudi monarch was followed suit by King Hamad bin Isaa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, who revealed on Sunday he had chosen not to travel to the US, leaving the emirs of Qatar and Kuwait as the only two confirmed monarchs attending the summit.

“There isn’t substance for the summit,” an Arab official who has held discussions with the Obama administration was quoted as saying by the Wall Street Journal.

The White House is aiming to secure an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme with a deadline on 30 June, although the Arab states remain unwilling to offer any support to Washington.