"Arab nations have joined Israel in expressing concern over the emerging details of a US-led international nuclear deal with Iran, indicating in private talks with US officials that they are worried about the apparent terms of the agreement, the Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

Leaders of Sunni states such as Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia fear a bad deal with Tehran would allow it, with the removal of sanctions, to become a nuclear threshold state, the WSJ reported. They say it could also lead to a nuclear arms race in the region.

Arab officials have also reportedly held discussions with the US over the possibility of Washington placing their countries under its "nuclear umbrella" — a guarantee to take military, even nuclear, action to protect an allied state under certain circumstances."

Arab nations said deeply worried by Iran nuke deal