SAUDI ARABIA: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tells a news conference in Saudi Arabia that talks about Iran's nuclear programme can not go on indefinitely
Record ID:
189125
SAUDI ARABIA: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tells a news conference in Saudi Arabia that talks about Iran's nuclear programme can not go on indefinitely
- Title: SAUDI ARABIA: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry tells a news conference in Saudi Arabia that talks about Iran's nuclear programme can not go on indefinitely
- Date: 4th March 2013
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (MARCH 4, 2013) (REUTERS) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY AND SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL TAKING SEATS FOR NEWS CONFERENCE AUDIENCE SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY, SAYING: "The focus for the moment, the first focus is the most urgent focus which remains the challenge of the nuclear programme. That is a threat that extends all throughout the region and in fact globally because of the issue of non-proliferation. So the initial focus is on that issue. And the answer to your first part of the question is: It is absolutely not unlimited. Talks will not go on for the sake of talks. And talks cannot become an instrument for delay that, in the end, make the situation more dangerous. So there is a finite amount of time." JOURNALISTS LISTENING
- Embargoed: 19th March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Saudi Arabia
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: International Relations,People
- Reuters ID: LVA64IXY2M42C0LVX1NQD6YJU2WE
- Story Text: The United States and top Gulf Arab ally Saudi Arabia said on Monday (March 4) that talks between Iran and world powers on a diplomatic solution to its disputed nuclear programme could not go on indefinitely.
Israel, Iran's arch-enemy and convinced Tehran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons, has grown impatient with the protracted talks and has threatened pre-emptive war against Tehran if it deems diplomacy ultimately futile.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said there was a finite amount of time for talks between a group of six world powers and Tehran.
"It is absolutely not unlimited. Talks will not go on for the sake of talks. And talks cannot become an instrument for delay that, in the end, make the situation more dangerous. So there is a finite amount of time," he said in Riyadh on his first overseas trip as Secretary of State.
Kerry was speaking at a news conference held jointly with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal, who suggested Iran - Saudi Arabia's main regional adversary - was not showing sufficient seriousness about the discussions, which he said "cannot go on forever".
Iran was upbeat last week after talks with the powers in Kazakhstan about its nuclear work ended with an agreement to meet again. But Western officials said it had yet to take concrete steps to ease their fears about its atomic ambitions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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