Saudi FM: US Must Consult Gulf States on Rejoining Iran Nuclear Deal

The Arab Gulf states must be consulted on US negotiations with Iran toward rejoining the Iran nuclear deal, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said. Speaking to reporters on Saturday at the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain, Farhan said: “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.” He acknowledged that he has not yet had contact with the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden over the issue, adding that: “we are ready to engage with the Biden administration once they take office,” the French news agency AFP reported. Biden has said the United States would rejoin the Iran nuclear deal with the major world powers, that President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018. The Gulf states, which are not party to the agreement, have expressed concern about the deal, as has Israel.