Saudis Kept US Informed on Talks with Iran, Says White House

Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby responds to a question from the news media during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 02 March 2023. (EPA)
Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby responds to a question from the news media during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 02 March 2023. (EPA)
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Saudis Kept US Informed on Talks with Iran, Says White House

Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby responds to a question from the news media during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 02 March 2023. (EPA)
Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby responds to a question from the news media during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 02 March 2023. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia kept Washington informed of its talks with Iran to restore diplomatic relations but the United States was not directly involved, White House spokesman John Kirby said on Friday.

The road map announced on Friday was the result of several rounds of talks, including some held in Baghdad and Oman.

"The Saudis did keep us informed about these talks that they were having, just as we keep them informed on our engagements, but we weren't directly involved."

The White House believes that internal and external pressure, including effective Saudi deterrence against attacks from Iran or its proxies, ultimately brought Iran to the table, Kirby said.

"We support any efforts to de-escalate tensions there and in the region. We think it's in our interests, and it's something that we worked on through our own effective combination of deterrence and diplomacy."



Saudi FM Expresses to Iranian Counterpart Condemnation of Israeli Attack

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan
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Saudi FM Expresses to Iranian Counterpart Condemnation of Israeli Attack

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held on Friday a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi.

During the call, Prince Faisal “expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation of the blatant Israeli aggression against” Iran, a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement said.

He “affirmed the Kingdom’s rejection of the use of force and stressed the importance of dialogue to address disputes,” it said.

Prince Faisal “also emphasized that the Israeli attack undermines efforts aimed at de-escalation and reaching diplomatic solutions,” the statement added.