美国国防部长罗伯特.盖茨抵达沙特阿拉伯进行访问，盖茨此行的目的是要安抚美国的盟友，表示华盛顿对伊朗的姿态将不会损害同阿拉伯国家的关系。
盖茨星期二是从开罗前往沙特访问的，当天早些时候他在开罗曾告诉埃及总统穆巴拉克，美国与伊朗的接触将是“公开和透明的”，在整个过程中会随时向盟国通报。
盖茨部长还表示，那种认为德黑兰与华盛顿之间会做“大交易”的看法是不现实的，不应该引起该地区的担忧。
不过，阿拉伯国家早已对影响力日增的非阿拉伯国家伊朗及其迅速发展的核计划表示过担忧。
盖茨说，华盛顿将警惕“伊朗颠覆活动” ，并将努力维护该地区美国伙伴国家的安全与稳定。
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Saudi Arabia on a tour aimed at reassuring allies that any overtures to Iran will not hurt ties with Arab states.
Gates arrived Tuesday from Cairo, where earlier in the day he told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak the U.S. will be “open and transparent” about contacts with Iran and will keeps its allies informed throughout the process.
The Pentagon chief also said the idea of a “grand bargain” between Tehran and Washington was unrealistic and should not cause the region concern.
Arab nations have expressed concern about the growing influence of non-Arab Iran and its burgeoning nuclear program.
Gates said that Washington will be on guard against what he called “Iranian subversive activities” and will work to maintain the security and stability of U.S. partners in the region.