US President Obama met Friday with the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, part of his effort to sell the Iran nuclear to a key Middle East ally.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir arrived at the White House mid-morning, USA Today reported.

Officials in Saudi Arabia and Israel have criticized the Iran deal announced this week, questioning whether it will really prevent Tehran from securing the means to make nuclear weapons.

"The president did sit down and have a discussion with the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir to discuss a range of regional and bilateral issues, including the recent historic agreement that was announced this week," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

Those other issues included ongoing conflicts in Yemen and Syria, as well as the fight against Islamic State aggression in Iraq and Syria, Earnest said.