Riyadh (TDI): President Donald Trump on Wednesday told Gulf leaders that he urgently wants “to make a deal” with Iran to wind down its nuclear program but that Tehran must end its support of proxy groups throughout the region as part of any potential agreement.
Tehran “must stop sponsoring terror, stop its bloody proxy wars, and completely cease pursuit of nuclear weapons,” Trump said in remarks at a meeting of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh. “They cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he stated.
Washington and Tehran have engaged in four rounds of negotiations since early April focused on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly stated he believes reaching at an agreement is possible.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi termed Trump’s remarks “deceitful”.
Trump’s comments on Tehran came after he met with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa on Wednesday, a former insurgent leader who spent years behind the bars by US troops after being captured in Iraq.
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Trump agreed to meet Al-Sharaa at the end of his visit to Saudi Arabia. He travelled next to Doha, Qatar, on a state visit. His will also visit to the UAE in his Middle East tour.
Trump stated he decided to meet with Al-Sharaa after being encouraged to do so by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The president also vowed to end yearlong sanctions on Syria.
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The sanctions were really crippling Syria and very harsh, Trump said. It’s not going to be easy anyway, so it gives them a good opportunity to rebuild the country, he added.
The Crown Prince joined Trump and Al-Sharaa for the meeting, which lasted about thirty-three minutes. Erdogan also attended the talks via video conference.
Mohammad Bin Salman said Trump’s decision to meet with Al-Sharaa and lift the sanctions will alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people and open a “new chapter” for the country.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
