Saudi, US position on Iran N-crisis unchanged
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and US President Barack Obama tackled a range of sensitive regional issues Tuesday during Obama’s visit to Riyadh.
The king highlighted the Saudi stance on Iran, which, he said, should not be allowed to acquire nuclear power.
King Salman also sought support to solve the Israeli-Arab conflict during the hour-long talks with Obama.
“The two leaders discussed the Iranian nuclear issue within the framework of the negotiations involving the P5 plus 1 countries (US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany),” said a royal court statement, released here Wednesday.
Referring to the Iran-backed turmoil in Yemen, the statement said: “King Salman and Obama discussed the implications of the situation in Yemen and the importance of working to achieve security and stability in the region.”
The meeting also focused on a host of other Mideast security issues including the sectarian divisions in Iraq, the US-led campaign against the Islamic State and support for Syrian opposition fighting President Bashar Assad.
The two leaders also touched on stability in the oil market and the king reaffirmed the need for continuity on Saudi energy policy.
With regard to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, King Salman made it clear that it should be “resolved on priority basis within the framework of the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant UN resolutions.”
The statement said: “On the commercial front, King Salman and Obama stressed the importance of investment and economic exchanges between the two countries.”