Saudi diplomat urges Biden not to repeat ‘mistakes’ of first Iran nuclear deal

Former Saudi ambassador to Washington Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud has urged US President-elect Joe Biden not to repeat the “mistakes” of the first nuclear deal with Iran.

Speaking at the National Council on US-Arab Relations yesterday, Faisal said Biden “is not new to politics. He is an experienced statesman and well-familiar with the important issues in the world and our region. However, we must wait to see to know about his vision, his team and his foreign policy conduct.

“While we all aspire to have Iran back as a normal peaceful nation-state within the international community, the last forty years’ experience with the Iranian regime is not encouraging.”

In this Saturday Nov. 24, 2018, file photo, Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal talks to the Associated Press in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)

Thus, reentering the Iran nuclear deal, as Biden has said he wishes to do, “would not do service to stability in our region. Rejoining and then negotiating the other important issues would trap diplomacy and subject it to Iranian blackmail.”

He said any non-comprehensive agreement “will not achieve lasting peace and security in our region.” He said the nuclear deal “did not rationalize Iranian destructive behavior in our region,” which is no less of a threat than its nuclear aspirations.

Saudi Arabia is seen to be wary of Biden’s upcoming presidency, fearing he will take a far harsher stance toward the nation than the current administration on various issues.