Riyadh seeks to mediate between Trump and Tehran on nuclear deal – CNN

Saudi Arabia is open to mediating between the Trump administration and Iran in pursuit of a new agreement to limit Tehran’s nuclear program, CNN reported on Sunday.

The report said that Riyadh is concerned that Iran may be more inclined to pursue nuclear weapons after the weakening of its allied forces in the Middle East, which had long been seen as a deterrent against Israeli attacks.

Saudi Arabia hopes to leverage its ties with US President Donald Trump to provide Iran with a diplomatic channel to the White House, according to the report.

CNN added that it remains unclear whether Saudi Arabia has made a formal offer, but said the move highlights Riyadh’s efforts to build on its improving relations with Iran and secure a role in any future negotiations.

On Saturday Al-Hadath cited a senior European diplomat saying that if Tehran fails to reach an agreement with the Trump administration before October, Israel will launch a military attack on Iran.

The director general of the UN's nuclear watchdog on Friday said the international community should not waste any more time and should finalize a deal on Iran's nuclear program before it is too late.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Rafael Grossi said Iran would likely have about 250 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60% by the time of the agency's next report in the coming weeks.

On February 4, Trump signed a directive reviving his so-called maximum pressure policy on Iran from his first term aimed at driving the Islamic Republic's oil exports to zero. After signing the memorandum, he said he would prefer a deal with Tehran to an Israeli attack on their nuclear sites.

"I would love to make a deal with them without bombing them," he said on Fox News.

Following weeks of ambivalent signals regarding negotiations and a struggle in Tehran's political scene, Khamenei finally voiced his opposition to negotiations on February 7, saying talks with the US are "not smart, wise, or honorable."

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian also said the country would not yield to external threats.

During last week's state rally marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Pezeshkian accused the US of duplicity, saying that Trump called for negotiations while continuing sanctions.

Iran’s Supreme Leader praised the president for rejecting talks with the United States and said Tehran must continue its military progress after Trump’s threat to stop Iran's nuclear program by force.