Trump admin seeks to revive 'Arab NATO' in part to counter Iran's expansion

The White House confirmed it was working on the concept of the alliance with 'our regional partners now and have been for several months'

The Trump administration is quietly pushing ahead with a bid to create a new security and political alliance with six Gulf Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, in part to counter Iran's expansion in the region, according to US and Arab officials.

The White House wants to see deeper cooperation between the countries on missile defense, military training, counter-terrorism and other issues such as strengthening regional economic and diplomatic ties, four sources said.

The plan to forge what officials in the White House and West Asia have called an "Arab NATO" of Sunni Muslim allies will likely raise tensions between the