Saudi Says Iran Should Not Get 'Undeserved' Nuclear Deals

by Naharnet Newsdesk 23 March 2015, 16:29

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said on Monday that Iran, which is negotiating with world powers on its nuclear program, should not get "undeserved deals."

"It is impossible that Iran should get undeserved deals," Prince Saud said at a joint news conference with visiting British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

Iran and six world powers are in negotiations to clinch a long-sought deal aimed at putting a nuclear bomb out of reach for the country in exchange for easing sanctions on its economy. Tehran denies wanting nuclear weapons.

Prince Saud called for guarantees that the program "does not turn into a nuclear weapon that could pose a threat to the region and the world, especially in view of Iran's aggressive politics in the region."

The minister also accused Tehran of "continued meddling in the affairs of Arab countries and attempts to stoke sectarian conflicts in the region."

Iran and Saudi Arabia, the foremost Shiite and Sunni Muslim powers in the Middle East, have had troubled relations in recent years after taking different sides in the Syrian civil war.

Tehran has backed Syrian President Bashar Assad while Riyadh supported Sunni rebels trying to topple him.

Source: Agence France Presse

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