Catherine Ashton to Focus on Syria, Iran in Gulf Tour

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will visit five Gulf nations on a tour of the region next week focusing on the war in Syria, Iran's disputed nuclear program and Israel-Palestinian peace efforts.

Ashton will visit the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar on the trip which runs until January 16, according to a diplomatic source.

"We will have the chance to discuss a range of important issues which affect our bilateral relationships," Ashton said in a statement.

These include EU ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council, "as well as pressing regional questions, such as the crisis in Syria, the Middle East Peace Process and the recent agreement ... on the Iranian nuclear program."

Ashton will hold press conferences on Tuesday in the UAE as well as Kuwait.