DUBAI – Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on Saturday that the kingdom is optimistic that it will have “excellent relations” with President Joe Biden’s new government and that it will continue to talk to Washington about the nuclear deal with Iran.
“I am optimistic. Saudi Arabia has built solid historical relationships in which it has worked with different administrations. We will continue to do so with President Biden as well,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said in an interview with Arabiya TV.
Biden pledged during the election campaign to reevaluate ties with Saudi Arabia, a state he described as an “outcast” in 2019.
Biden said he will take a firmer stand on Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and the devastating Yemen war.
Prince Faisal said that Riyadh will continue to consult with Washington regarding the nuclear deal with Iran.
The United States withdrew in 2018 from the 2015 agreement between the major powers and Iran, according to which Iran restricted its nuclear program in exchange for easing economic sanctions.
“I believe that basically the consultations will revolve around a solid and strong agreement that takes into account Iran’s failure to comply … with strong monitoring factors to ensure the implementation of the agreement,” said Prince Faisal.
Biden said that if Tehran resumed strict compliance with the agreement, Washington would do it too.
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Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies, including the United Arab Emirates, concerned about Iran’s ballistic missiles and the regional network of representatives, supported Trump’s maximum pressure campaign on Tehran and welcomed his decision to end the nuclear deal and impose sanctions on Iran.
This time, they say they should be included in any potential negotiations between the Biden government and Iran over a new nuclear deal, to ensure that it addresses Iran’s missile capabilities and “evil activity”.
The Saudi minister reiterated the kingdom’s position that having a peace agreement with Israel is conditional on the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative.