US President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia in April for a summit with Gulf Arab leaders, the White House said on Wednesday. The visit aims to offering them a chance to repair relations strained by last year’s nuclear deal with Iran.

The summit in Saudi Arabia “will be an opportunity for leaders to review progress in strengthening U.S.-GCC security cooperation” in the year since the gathering at Camp David, the White House said.

GCC countries include Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Prince Turki al-Faisal, the kingdom's former intelligence chief and envoy to Washington, lashed out at Obama's recent comments to The Atlantic magazine.

Faisal said that, “you accuse us of fomenting sectarian strife in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. You add insult to injury by telling us to share our world with Iran, a country that you describe as a supporter of terrorism."

Faisal questioned whether Obama has "pivoted to Iran so much that you equate the kingdom's 80 years of constant friendship with America to an Iranian leadership that continues to describe America as the biggest enemy, that continues to arm, fund and support sectarian militias in the Arab and Muslim world".

Nandini