US, Saudi officials meet to discuss Iran nuclear issue

Middle East, News, US October 16, 2021 , by IRIA No Comments

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during his visit to Washington held meetings with the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Affairs Robert Malley and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on October 14, to discuss a wide range of issues.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said in a Twitter post that he had a productive meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State and held a discussion on “range of issues of common interest and concern” to both Saudi Arabia and the United States, as well as discussed “ways to strengthen strategic partnership and cooperation on multiple fronts”

Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud also attended the meeting. The officials of the two countries agreed to work together on all fronts to solidify the partnership, Reema bint Bandar said.

According to the Saudi foreign ministry statement on Friday, both sides discussed ways to strengthen Saudi-US cooperation on the Iranian nuclear issue and relevant international negotiations.

The officials of both countries also discussed Iran’s violations of international conventions and treaties related to the nuclear agreement, and the alleged Iranian support to terrorist militias, who are destabilizing the Middle East region.

The Saudi foreign ministry statement also said that Al Saud and the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, discussed intensifying joint efforts against “Iranian violations of international treaties related to the nuclear agreement”.

Earlier this week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken held bilateral and trilateral meetings with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The officials from Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates also discussed the Iran nuclear negotiations progress with the top U.S. officials in Washington.

The United States’ allies in the region are increasingly concerned over President Biden’s decision to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which they believe is not enough to address their concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and regional policies.