Saudi and France: Iran nuclear deal must avoid destabilising region

Two nations believe that any future deal between Iran and six major powers must ensure not to destabilise the region further and threaten Iran’s neighbours, the two countries said ahead of a GCC summit in Riyadh on Tuesday.

RIYADH // France and Saudi Arabia believe that any future deal between Iran and six major powers must ensure not to destabilise the region further and threaten Iran’s neighbours, the two countries said ahead of a GCC summit in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia invited French President Francois Hollande, whose country is deemed to have a tough stance in Iran nuclear negotiations, to Riyadh to discuss regional issues with GCC leaders who fear a rapprochement with Tehran could lead to further destabilisation in the region.

“France and Saudi Arabia confirmed the necessity to reach a robust, lasting, verifiable, undisputed and binding deal with Iran,” Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and France President Hollande said in a statement after meeting on Monday.

“This agreement must not destabilise the security and stability of the region nor threaten the security and stability of Iran’s neighbours,” the statement said.

Mr Hollande met the new Saudi King for an hour after dinner at his personal palace. The two leaders specifically discussed Iran’s role in Yemen and Syria, where they reiterated there was no future for Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

Those talks will be widened to the GCC Summit on Tuesday.

“They 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.

The visit to Riyadh, where Mr Hollande also met Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi on Monday, comes after a period where Paris has been able to nurture new links with the region following similar analysis to Gulf states on crises and a perceived disengagement from traditional ally the United States.

The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, changed his schedule at the last minute to travel to Riyadh on Wednesday as he looks to finalise plans for a summit at Camp David on May 13 between Gulf leaders and US President Barack Obama.

Officials in Washington say they are seeking the best deal with Iran and have cautioned that France’s position privately is not as tough as it is publicly.

France’s commercial success in the region was highlighted on Monday when Mr Hollande signed a €6.3 billion (Dh25.7bn) deal in Doha to sell French-made Rafale fighter jets.

* Reuters