MWL Condemns Escalating Israeli Settler Violence against Palestinians in West Bank

Saudi Arabia insists that trust must be rebuilt with Iran before any discussions on economic cooperation or mutual investment can take place. This stance comes in response to media reports about a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

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That trust has regressed.

The reported memorandum allegedly includes provisions for companies from various countries to participate in a fund supporting Iran's reconstruction after a final agreement. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, speaking at a panel in Vienna, stated he had no information about such a fund. However, he highlighted that recent conflicts, including Iran's attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, have created a significant breach of trust.

Prince Faisal explained that this breach occurred even as relations with Iran were being rebuilt under the "Beijing agreement." He stressed the need for dialogue to restore trust before any economic cooperation can be rationally addressed. Saudi Arabia's current development priorities remain focused domestically.

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We will have to hold a dialogue on how to rebuild that trust and rebuild the relationship before any concept of economic cooperation, mutual investment, or anything of that sort can be rationally addressed.

Regarding the nuclear file, Prince Faisal noted that past agreements, which ignored regional contexts, risked becoming less secure. He argued that any new nuclear deal must address regional concerns to avoid becoming a source of dispute. Despite ambiguity in some provisions, Riyadh supported the diplomatic efforts that led to the memorandum of understanding and remains committed to diplomacy.

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Saudi Arabia remains committed to diplomacy, which is why it backed the diplomatic efforts that helped produce the memorandum.

Saudi Arabia is actively engaged in supporting upcoming negotiations and plans to work with regional partners on a dialogue to rebuild trust. Prince Faisal stated that such talks should focus on overcoming the trust crisis and ensuring potential flashpoints are managed through diplomacy. He also emphasized the need for strong deterrence and resilience, outlining a dual-track approach that includes building defense capabilities and strengthening economic resilience.

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very actively engaged