SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Gulf Arab states said it would be dangerous to separate global powers’ nuclear deal with Iran from Tehran’s missile program and ‘destabilizing’ behavior.
Gulf Arab foreign ministers released a statement following their meeting in Riyadh on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
They urged the powers to secure a deal with stronger restrictions and a longer duration, and to “link it with practical steps to build trust” in order to prevent an arms race and further conflict in the region.
They said Gulf states should be involved in global negotiations with Iran and that they were ready to “cooperate and deal seriously and effectively with the Iranian nuclear file … on the basis of respect for sovereignty and good neighborliness”, Reuters said.
World powers and Iran entered a sixth round of talks in Vienna on Saturday to revive the 2015 nuclear pact, which former U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018.
Iran has opposed any attempt to add other issues to the deal, under which it agreed to curbs on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of international sanctions.
Saudi Arabia and its allies oppose the nuclear pact for not tackling their concerns.
The Gulf Arab foreign ministers stressed “the danger of separating implications of the nuclear deal” from Iran’s missiles programme and support for regional proxies, Reuters reported
They urged Tehran to engage seriously with talks and avoid escalations.
