Following a meeting in Jeddah with HRH King Salman and Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Prince Mohammed bin Salman, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the King and Prince expressed “their support for the Iranian nuclear deal, albeit with a couple reservations about how the deal would be implemented,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
HRH King Salman will visit the United States in September.
According to that report, Saudi support of the deal could be a “huge boost” for President Obama and backers of the deal. “Israel has unparalleled clout on Capitol Hill, but lawmakers who oppose the deal have been privately urging Saudi Arabia to join in a full-court press,” according to the report.
The Guardian reports that Secretary Carter told reporters that the United States and Saudi Arabia share the same concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. “The only reservations we discussed were ones that we thoroughly share, mainly that we attend to verification of the agreement as it is implemented,” Secretary Carter said.
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter Speaks to Reporters on a trip to Saudi Arabia.
Secretary Carter also said that King Salman is expected to visit the United States in the fall, telling the Monarch in front of reporters that President Barack Obama was looking forward to seeing him in September, according to Reuters.
The king plans to visit the U.S. in the fall to hold more detailed discussions with President Obama.
Secretary Carter visited with HRH Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Minister of Defense.
