- Title: SAUDI-IRAN/MOGHERINI Mogherini meets Saudis to discuss Iranian nuclear deal
- Date: 27th July 2015
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (JULY 27, 2015) (REUTERS) SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER ADEL AL-JUBAIR AND EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF FEDERICA MOGHERINI ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, FEDERICA MOGHERINI, SAYING: "If that took so much time and so much hard work (to reach nuclear deal with Iran), that
- Embargoed: 11th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: General
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European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini visited Saudi Arabia on Monday (July 27) in order to discuss the recent Iranian nuclear deal with Iran's traditional rivals in the region.
On July 14 in Vienna, world leaders reached an agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme. The deal imposes curbs on Iran's nuclear programme in return for an easing of the international sanctions which have badly hurt its economy.
Mogherini, who was heavily involved in negotiations, said it took a lot of hard work to reach the compromise.
"If that took so much time and so much hard work (to reach nuclear deal with Iran), that was exactly because we were all very much aware of the fact that we needed to have a strong, solid agreement, leaving nothing to further interpretation or discussion but very detailed and ready for implementation," she said at a news conference, next to Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
She also made it clear that part of the deal was aimed at tackling regional instability.
"From the moment when we will start to see the agreement implemented, we will also have to tackle the issue of the regional dynamics, the many conflicts we have in front of us, and Iranian stent (stance) in this regional dynamic," said Mogherini.
Jubeir accused Iran of making threats against Riyadh's ally, Bahrain, which he said showed that the Islamic republic was harbouring hostile designs against its Middle Eastern neighbours.
Jubeir said Saudi Arabia had raised the issue with Mogherini and that Iran's recent comments showed Tehran was intervening in its neighbours' internal affairs.
"I have expressed the kingdom's denunciation and rejection of the hostile statements made by Iranian officials which prove that Iran was intervening in the internal affairs of its neighbours," he said.
"We also condemned the declarations by Iranian officials against our brothers in Bahrain, This is an issue that we also do not accept, and reject it, and believe it does not represent the desire of a state for good neighbourly relations but that of a state which has aspirations in the region and which carried out hostile act like this," added Jubeir.
Jubeir did not clarify who made the comments or when, but he said they could be linked to the terms of the agreement with world powers on its nuclear programme or to setbacks suffered by Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen and President Bashar al-Assad's forces in Syria.
Bahrain on Saturday said it had foiled an arms smuggling plot by two Bahrainis with ties to Iran and recalled its ambassador to Tehran for consultations after what it said were repeated hostile Iranian statements.
Relations between regional Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite Muslim rival Iran have long been sour, with Riyadh accusing Tehran of trying to expand its influence to its Arab neighbours and allies.
Western-allied Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, is currently leading an Arab coalition in a campaign against the Houthis in Yemen.
Gulf Arab states are concerned that the nuclear accord will hasten a rapprochement between Tehran and Washington that could embolden Iran to increase support for paramilitary groups across the Middle East.
Mogherini was due to travel to Tehran on Tuesday (July 28), where she will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif and other senior officials. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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