Saudi Arabia backs Iranian nuclear bargain

Saudi Arabia’s government on Monday announced its support for the interim agreement between Western powers and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program, Reuters reported.

“The council of ministers expressed hope for attaining a binding and definitive agreement that would lead to the strengthening of security and stability in the region and the world,” a statement released by the Saudi Cabinet and carried by state news agency SPA said.

{mosads}The document added that Saudi Arabia hoped a final deal would lead to a “Middle East and the Arabian Gulf region free of all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons.” 

Under the terms of the framework that was hashed out last week, the U.S. and European allies would gradually lift economic sanctions on Iran in return for limitations on material and technology that could be used to make a nuclear weapon. International inspectors would also be able to closely monitor Iran’s program. 

Negotiators have three months to reach a final accord. 

The Cabinet’s statement emphasized the need for “good neighborliness and non-interference in the affairs of Arab states.”

A Sunni kingdom, Saudi Arabia has led Arab states in airstrikes in Yemen against militiamen backed by Shiite Iran.