JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia said it supported an agreement to stop Tehran gaining nuclear weapons but emphasized the importance of a strict inspections regime and the ability to reimpose sanctions.
An official source, quoted by the SPA, said the Kingdom has always stood by the importance of an agreement that prevents Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons at all costs, and includes on-going and specific monitoring mechanism of all sites, especially military sites, as well as the mechanism to reintroduce sanctions immediately in the case of any violation of the agreement by Iran. The official also stressed that sanctions relating to terrorism and violation of international arms treaties would remain intact.
“In light of this agreement, Iran must take advantage of its resources to promote domestic development and improve the situation of Iranian youth, rather than using it to create chaos in the region — an act that will be faced with determination by countries in the region,” the official said.
“The Kingdom seeks to build good ties with Iran in all areas given its position as a neighboring country, and these ties are to be based on principles of cooperation among neighbors, rather than interference.”
In a separate statement, Abdulaziz Al-Sager, the head of the Gulf Research Centre, told Reuters: “What I'm hoping for is that we won't end up having wars by proxy in the region, that Saudi Arabia will not feel pushed to fight indirectly wherever Iranian influence is.”
He added: “If Iran is determined to expand its influence, and use sectarianism as its way to do that, then I think they will be pushing Saudi Arabia to go into war by proxy.”
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush criticized what he called a “dangerous, deeply flawed and short-sighted deal.”
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