Urgent The Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia discuss security relations and regional issues
Today, Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks with his British counterpart Liz Truss to discuss Yemen, Iran and the wider Middle East region. Truss arrived in the Saudi capital earlier today as part of a Gulf tour aimed at strengthening economic and security relations. The trip came on the heels of the UK's free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council as part of its deals to develop trade after leaving the European Union. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said that the two sides discussed the Kingdom's efforts and initiatives to reach a political solution to the conflict in Yemen in a way that supports development and stability for the Yemeni people.
They also discussed the most important developments regarding the Iranian nuclear agreement and the ongoing negotiations in Vienna.
Tehran has stalled negotiations aimed at reviving a landmark 2015 agreement to curb its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief since before Ibrahim Raisi was sworn in as president in August. Iran has stopped fulfilling some of its commitments and has increased uranium enrichment, which has alarmed the United Nations nuclear watchdog and the international community.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Prince Faisal and Tarous reviewed during the meeting the strong and historical Saudi-British relations and the opportunities to strengthen them in all fields.
They also discussed Saudi-British efforts to lay the foundations for peace, security and stability in the Middle East and the world. They also exchanged views on a number of issues of common interest.
"I am honored to meet my Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh today to discuss working together on infrastructure in Africa and Asia, security, and a stronger UK-Saudi trade relationship," Truss said in a tweet following the meeting.
The meeting was attended by the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the United Kingdom Prince Khalid bin Bandar