Riyadh (dpa) – US Defence Secretary, Ashton Carter, Wednesday arrived
in Saudi Arabia and met with King Salman for talks aimed at
reassuring Washington’s key regional ally about a nuclear deal with
Iran.
The monarch discussed with Carter US-Saudi relations and the
developments in the Middle East, the official Saudi Press Agency
reported.
Carter reassured King Salman that the US remains committed to peace
and stability in the region, the agency said without giving details.
Iran is a regional rival of Saudi Arabia, with both countries being
on the opposite side of conflicts in Syria and Yemen.
Carter’s visit to Saudi Arabia is part of a Middle Eastern tour to
dispel US allies’ worries about the nuclear agreement struck with
Iran last week.
The US official had earlier in the week visited Israel, which has
called the Iran deal a “historic mistake.”
On Monday, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a
resolution lifting sanctions imposed on Iran.
Under the resolution, sanctions – including travel bans and asset
freezes meant to force Iran to curtail its nuclear programme – will
be lifted after 90 days, assuming the council receives a report from
the International Atomic Energy Agency stating that Iran is meeting
its commitments under the deal.
Washington’s Middle East allies fear that lifting the sanctions would
expand Iran’s influence in the region.
