Daily US Times: Saudi Arabi says the Gulf states must be consulted before the US revives a nuclear agreement with Iran, warning that this would be the only road towards a sustainable agreement.
Joe Biden, the US President-elect, has signalled a willingness to return the United States to a landmark 2015 nuclear accord with Iran if Iran showed compliance with the terms of the agreement. The nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and it was negotiated during the presidency of Barack Obama and Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018.
Political analysts say a return to the deal would delight US allies in Europe but it will concern the Gulf states, who have criticised US engagement with Tehran.
On the sidelines of a security conference in Bahrain’s Manama on Saturday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told AFP news agency: “Primarily what we expect is that we are fully consulted, that we and our other regional friends are fully consulted in what goes on vis-a-vis the negotiations with Iran.”
Joe Biden has indicated that his administration will bring Iran’s US-allied Arab neighbours, such as Saudi Arabia, which sees Iran as its archrival, into the process.
The Saudi foreign minister said: “The only way towards reaching an agreement that is sustainable is through such consultation.”
Prince Faisal said there were no contacts with the Biden administration as yet, but that “we are ready to engage with the Biden administration once they take office”.
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