US military chief meets Egypt’s president at start of Mideast tour focused on Iran concerns
By APSunday, February 14, 2010
US military chief discusses Iran on Mideast tour
CAIRO — The U.S. military chief has met with Egypt’s president at the start of a Middle East tour that Arab media reports say is focused on concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.
The predominantly Sunni Arab Middle East has been wary of the growing influence of Shiite Iran, especially because of international suspicions that its nuclear program has a military dimension.
U.S. military officials said last month that the United States was strengthening its missile defenses in Arab nations in the Gulf region to guard against any Iranian missile strike.
Egypt’s state news agency says President Hosni Mubarak met with Adm. Mike Mullen on Sunday. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will travel later in the day to Israel.
