Mideast allies fear U.S. will turn its back on them for Iran nuclear deal

The Obama administration denies it is going soft on Iran, or easing support for allies. Even critics acknowledge they can't be sure what motivates specific administration moves. But the anxiety among U.S. allies in the Middle East is real, and it suggests strains on core U.S. alliances are likely to remain a challenge for the administration if a nuclear deal is completed, as expected.

"The perception problem is real," said Daniel Kurtzer, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel and onetime Obama campaign advisor. Criticism from Arabs, Israelis and some in the United States has mounted during the 22 months of talks between Iran and the P5+1.(Read More)