RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is using the Middle East leg of his first trip abroad as America's top diplomat to call for concerted international action to punish Iran for its missile programs. He's also urging Saudi Arabia and its neighbors to resolve a long-festering dispute with Qatar that U.S. officials say Iran is exploiting to boost its influence in the region, including in Yemen and Syria. Senior U.S. officials traveling with Pompeo blamed Iran for smuggling the missiles into Yemen. They said he'd also stress the U.S. commitment to the defense of Saudi Arabia, Israel and other friends and partners in the region. The crisis erupted last summer, when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE blocked the country, accusing it of supporting terrorism.

Source: Philippine Star April 29, 2018 04:18 UTC