During the phone call, both Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US Defense Secretary Ash Carter also talked about Iran’s role in the region and way of combatting violence and extremism in the region.

Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and his US counterpart Defense Secretary Ash Carter affirmed over a phone call on Thursday both country’s defense relationship.

In a statement summarizing the call, Cook said they also discussed the security environment in the Middle East, including ways to work together to strengthen cooperation on counterterrorism efforts.

Carter welcomed Saudi Arabia’s contributions to the coalition campaign to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said, and the pair discussed ways to expand their cooperation.

During the phone call, both parties also talked about Iran’s role in the region and ways of combating violence and extremism in the region. The United States also re-iterated its willingness to work with GCC counterparts in coordinating efforts in order to promote stability in the region.

The defense leaders agreed on the need to stay in close communication going forward, he added.

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