Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed "the Kingdom's concern over Iranian violations, particularly concerning its nuclear program." This statement was made during a joint press conference in Athens on Tuesday with his Greek counterpart, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. The Saudi minister noted that "Iranian violations contradict what Tehran claims about the peaceful nature of its nuclear program." He reaffirmed the Kingdom's support for international efforts aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Saudi Foreign Minister indicated that he exchanged views with the Greek Foreign Minister regarding the stalled nuclear negotiations between Iran and the 5+1 countries. He also clarified to his Greek counterpart "the threat posed by the Houthi group to international navigation, most recently the hijacking of a civilian vessel at sea."
During the discussions, the Saudi minister emphasized "the danger of the Houthi militia continuing to rely on military options in Yemen." He announced that in the Greek capital, he addressed Houthi attacks on the Kingdom, mentioning that he and his Greek counterpart discussed ways to enhance security and stability in the region.
According to the Saudi Foreign Minister, the talks also covered developments in Afghanistan. He noted that discussions included fields of economic cooperation between the two sides. The Greek newspaper "Kathimerini" had previously reported that the two ministers would discuss developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf region. The newspaper added that the ministers would also talk about bilateral relations in the areas of defense, economy, and investment, as well as cooperation within international organizations. It was mentioned that this is the Saudi minister's second visit to Athens in less than a year, having previously participated in the Friendship Forum last February.
