Gulf Arab leaders demanded Iran take ‘concrete steps’ to reduce tensions

Gulf Arab leaders called on Iran on Tuesday during a meeting in Saudi Arabia to take concrete steps instead of making promises to reduce tensions.

According to Reuters, they also emphasized their request to participate in negotiations between world powers and Tehran aimed at saving the nuclear deal, the JCPOA.

Mohammad bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, said at the annual meeting of Gulf Arab leaders that the nuclear and missile programs of Iran must be dealt with “seriously and effectively” before the final statement of the meeting was issued.

Indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States to revive the JCPOA, which had begun in April, were halted in June following the rise to power of Ibrahim Raisi, a hardline cleric. Now his representatives have made demands which, according to Western countries, are not only unrealistic but also undermine agreements reached in the six previous rounds of negotiations.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, said at a press conference following the Gulf Arab leaders summit: “So far, reports indicate that Iran is stalling the process and we hope this will turn into progress in the near future.”

He said that countries on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf prefer to be part of the JCPOA revival talks, but at the same time welcome “any mechanism” that also addresses their concerns, including Iran’s proxy groups.

Reuters writes that Riyadh and the United Arab Emirates have both contacted Iran to try to curb tensions.

Prince Faisal said talks with Iran have not resulted in any “real change on the ground” but the country still welcomes negotiations and is willing to conduct them.

Iran has angered Saudi Arabia on various issues, particularly regarding its support for Houthi militias in Yemen and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

Iran’s president has said that a priority of his foreign policy is to improve relations with Iran’s neighbors in the southern Persian Gulf.

According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have moved away from aggressive foreign policies and adopted a more conciliatory approach. They are seeking to attract foreign investment and gain the favor of U.S. President Joe Biden.

The United Arab Emirates has moved faster to improve relations with Iran and Turkey, and at the same time, following the establishment of relations with Israel last year, has renewed contact with Syria.

Source: Voice of America