France,
Saudi Arabia: Iran nuclear deal must be verifiable, no threat to region
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[May 05, 2015]
By John Irish
RIYADH (Reuters) - France and Saudi Arabia
believe that any future nuclear accord between Iran and six major powers
must be robust, verifiable and no threat to Tehran's neighbors, the two
countries said ahead of a summit in Riyadh on Tuesday.
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Saudi Arabia invited French President Francois Hollande, whose
country is deemed to have the toughest stance among the six world
powers negotiating with Iran, to Riyadh to discuss regional issues
with Gulf Arab leaders who fear a rapprochement with Tehran could
further inflame the region.
"France and Saudi Arabia confirmed the necessity to reach a robust,
lasting, verifiable, undisputed and binding deal with Iran,"
Hollande and the new Saudi King Salman said in a statement after
meeting on Monday.
"This agreement must not destabilize the security and stability of
the region nor threaten the security and stability of Iran's
neighbors," the statement said.
Hollande met Salman for an hour after dinner at his personal palace
on Monday, and the Saudi cabinet on Tuesday. The two men tackled
Iran's role in the conflicts in Yemen and Syria and reiterated that
there was no future for President Bashar al-Assad of Syria after
four years of civil war there.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/May/05/images/ads/current/stacy_sda_121014.png) Hollande was to address Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders
shortly to reassure them that France would not accept a bad deal
with Iran as the powers try to meet a June 30 deadline.
In the negotiations with six world powers, the Islamic Republic
wants financial sanctions on it removed in exchange for restraints
on its disputed nuclear activity.
"They (GCC) have a real fear that when sanctions are lifted, Iran
will be able to finance all its proxies across the region," said a
senior French diplomat. Iran backs Shi'ite Houthi rebels in Yemen
and Assad in his battle with Sunni Muslim insurgents.
Hollande's visit to Riyadh marked a period in which France has been
able to nurture new links with the Gulf region in the face of
perceived disengagement on the part of traditional ally the United
States.
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"They wanted us to come so they could say to the Americans, look, we
also have France: it's up to you not to get edged out and to be here
with us," said a second French diplomat.
The new Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, told Reuters that
France was a historical ally and trading partner that had proved its
reliability to the Gulf.
"We have common views with regard to the challenges in the region
today with Syria, Yemen, Iraq, terrorism and of course Iran's
nuclear program, and there are very large commercial and military
ties between our two countries."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry changed his schedule at the last
minute this week to travel to Riyadh on Wednesday, looking to
finalize plans for a summit at Camp David on May 13-14 between Gulf
leaders and U.S. President Barack Obama.
U.S. officials say they are seeking the best possible settlement
with Iran and have cautioned that France's position privately is not
as tough as it is publicly.
(Editing by Mark Heinrich)
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