Saudi says backs efforts to prevent Iran from nuclear weapons

By Diana Shalhub

ISTANBUL (AA) – Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday reiterated his country’s support to international efforts aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

"The nuclear deal with all its shortcomings was not respected by Iran," bin Farhan told a joint press conference in Riyadh with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg.

The top Saudi diplomat said Riyadh is concerned by Iran's violations of its commitments regarding its nuclear program.

Schallenberg, for his part, said Austria was concerned by Iran’s refusal to allow access to nuclear inspectors to surveillance camera footage at Iranian nuclear sites.

Earlier this week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran has "continued to increase" its stockpile of enriched uranium that it warned could be used to make nuclear weapons.

In its quarterly report, the agency also said its verification and monitoring activities have been “seriously undermined” due to Iran’s refusal to let inspectors access the sites.

But on Sunday, Tehran allowed the UN nuclear watchdog to “service” the surveillance cameras installed at Iranian nuclear sites in a bid to ease concerns over Iran's nuclear activities.

The announcement came during the IAEA chief Rafael Grossi's visit to Tehran, ahead of the IAEA Board of Governors (BoG) meeting in Vienna next week, which will be followed by the annual general conference.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar