White House hosts King Abdullah II of Jordan for talks on terrorism, aid and Iran's denuclearization

"We had an extensive discussion about how to debilitate and destroy ISIL both in Iraq and Syria," Obama said following his meeting with the king. "Jordan has been working on this side-by-side with U.S. troops and other countries. We are making slow but steady progress, and we recognize that it is a long-term and extremely complex challenge."

King Abdullah II reiterated Jordan's "long-term commitment to bringing a long-term solution to the region" and noted that the Jordanian military is "very proud be working together to combat ISIL in Syria and Iraq."

With regard to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and recent attacks in Jerusalem, the president said "We share concerns about the continuous tensions between Israel and Gaza," adding "We are going to work together for a Palestinian state."

The two leaders also discussed the status of negotiations with Iran concerning its nuclear program. After the deadline to reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran expired Nov. 24, international negotiators announced that talks would continue in the months ahead. "We would prefer no deal to a bad deal," Obama explained to the king, adding "We will keep trying over the next several months."

Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser S. Judeh tweeted afterward that it was an "excellent summit meeting between His Majesty King Abdullah II and President Obama. Comprehensive discussion. Strong friendship between our two countries."

Earlier in the day, Biden hosted the king at the Naval Observatory for a morning meeting, where they discussed international efforts to counter the Islamic State as well as humanitarian assistance needs for Syrian refugees, including those currently residing in Jordan.

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