This story is free to read.

Obama holds White House talks with leaders from Saudi Arabia

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Opening two days of talks with Gulf states, President Barack Obama meets with Saudi leaders skeptical of his overtures to Iran. Saudi Arabia and others in the region hope to secure defense commitments from Obama to help them stave off potential Iranian aggression. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) President Barack Obama shakes hands with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Opening two days of talks with Gulf states, President Barack Obama meets with Saudi leaders skeptical of his overtures to Iran. Saudi Arabia and others in the region hope to secure defense commitments from Obama to help them stave off potential Iranian aggression. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

By Associated Press May 13, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama welcomed Saudi Arabian leaders to the White House for discussions on his overtures to Iran.

Obama met in the Oval Office with the Saudi crown prince and deputy crown prince on Wednesday.

Obama says the U.S. and the Saudis are building on a strong relationship “during a very challenging time.”

The president says they will discuss the situation in Yemen as well as broader issues for the gulf region.

The Saudi officials are representing the kingdom in Washington after King Salman announced that he no longer would make the trip.

Later Wednesday, leaders from other Gulf nations with join Obama and the Saudis for a dinner at the White House. They’ll head to Camp David Thursday for broader talks on Iran and regional security.