Key facts
- Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan highlighted verification mechanisms as the paramount issue in US-Iran nuclear talks.
- He stressed the importance of these mechanisms for building confidence among regional countries and the international community.
- The minister noted that Iran has agreed in principle to dilute its most highly enriched uranium.
- A 2015 deal that limited Iran's nuclear activities collapsed after the US withdrew in 2018, leading Iran to expand its program.
Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stated that the most critical element in the upcoming nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States will be the verification mechanisms for Iran's nuclear program. Speaking at a conference in Vienna, Prince Faisal emphasized that the details of how Iran's nuclear activities will be policed are paramount.
He noted that while Washington and Tehran have reportedly reached an agreement to end their conflict and open broader discussions on Iran's nuclear program, a final binding deal has not yet been secured. The Saudi minister stressed the significance of commitments regarding uranium enrichment and the removal or downblending of nuclear materials, but underscored that the verification aspect is what will truly matter.
Prince Faisal declined to comment on the specifics of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, stating he had not seen the final version. He highlighted the need for a robust, long-term, and sustainable verification regime to instill confidence in the international community and regional nations.