Obama said America's "core interests" in the Middle East are protecting US allies and ensuring peace in the region.

He told Friedman:

"At this point, the U.S.'s core interests in the region are not oil, are not territorial. ... Our core interests are that everybody is living in peace, that it is orderly, that our allies are not being attacked, that children are not having barrel bombs dropped on them, that massive displacements aren't taking place. Our interests in this sense are really just making sure that the region is working. And if it's working well, then we'll do fine. And that's going to be a big project, given what's taken place, but I think this [Iran nuclear deal] is at least one place to start."

Last week, negotiators reached a framework agreement for a nuclear deal with Iran. The finalized deal is due June 30. The deal allows Iran to keep some of its nuclear infrastructure, but the US says the accord will prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon for at least a decade.