(WASHINGTON, DC) - Today, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held a joint press conference in Riyadh to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest; including Iran’s nuclear program, Yemen, Syria and the Middle East peace process. During his visit, Secretary Kerry also met with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and separately with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

With regards to Yemen, Prince Saud said, “The international community expressed its full support to the legitimate government in Yemen, led by President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. This is clearly reflected in the statements issued by GCC, Arab League and the U.N. Security Council.”

Prince Saud reiterated the importance of the global anti-Daash [ISIS] coalition, calling on the coalition to fight the militants on the ground. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia underscores the importance of this coalition in fighting Daash in Iraq and Syria, and stresses the need to provide the military means necessary to fight this challenge on the ground,” said Prince Saud. He later added that the crisis in Syria “made Syria a safe haven for terrorist organizations, with the endorsement of the illegitimate Bashar Al-Assad's regime.”

Regarding the latest negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear program, Prince Saud said, “The Saudi government supports the efforts of P5+1 in view of its keenness to solve this file peacefully and reach a successful agreement that dissipates the doubts and protects against shifting it into a military program that threatens the region and the world.” He continued, “Saudi Arabia also supports the P5+1 position in seeking a firm international inspection system to ensure that Iran is not seeking the manufacture or the possession of nuclear weapons, together with maintaining Iran's right and the rights of all countries in the region to the peaceful use of nuclear energy according IAEA's standards, requirements and supervision.”

Prince Saud said that Saudi Arabia continues to hold the same position on the Middle East peace process, stating “Our view will always be based on the principles and the resolutions of international legitimacy, as well as the Arab Peace Initiative aiming at creation of a viable, independent Palestinian State.
Unfortunately, these efforts are still not yielding results.” He concluded, “On our part, we stress the importance of the international community shouldering its responsibility towards the inhumane practices of Israel against the Palestinian people.”