Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, emphasized that the critical aspect of upcoming nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States will be the establishment of robust verification mechanisms for Iran's nuclear program.
Speaking at a conference in Vienna hosted by the European Council on Foreign Relations, Prince Faisal stated that the specifics of these verification procedures will be paramount. While he declined to comment on the details of a memorandum of understanding that Washington and Tehran reportedly reached, citing the need to see the final version, he underscored the importance of clarity on these mechanisms.
Saudi Arabia, a key regional rival to Iran, has consistently monitored Tehran's nuclear activities, which Iran maintains are solely for peaceful purposes. Prince Faisal elaborated that the focus should extend beyond commitments on uranium enrichment and the removal or dilution of nuclear materials, to encompass the practical implementation of verification.
This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to eliminate Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, a material that can be quickly converted for weapons use. A senior Iranian official indicated that an agreement in principle has been reached to dilute this material.
The original 2015 nuclear deal, which imposed stringent limits on Iran's nuclear program, collapsed after the U.S. withdrew in 2018, leading Iran to expand its activities significantly beyond the agreed-upon boundaries. That agreement also included enhanced verification powers for the UN nuclear watchdog, including unannounced inspections, which Iran later rescinded.
Prince Faisal concluded by stating that the development of a long-term, sustainable verification regime is essential for building confidence among the international community and regional nations, thereby paving the way for a more stable future.
