'Trump summit will ensure Iran behaves normally': Saudi FM

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has said that US President Donald Trump's visit to Riyadh will address combating Iranian aggression in the region to ensure it "behaves normally".
2 min read
19 May, 2017

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has said that US President Donald Trump's visit to Riyadh will address combating Iranian aggression in the region to ensure it "behaves normally".

Adel al-Jubeir said on Thursday that Trump meeting this weekend will reinforce the "strategic partnership" between Riyadh and Washington in its fight against Islamic extremism.

"We will work with our allies, particularly the US to make sure that Iran behaves like a normal country," Jubeir said.

"The Trump administration's views are fully inline with Saudi Arabia, particularly in regards to Syria and Yemen. It believes in strengthening relations between the two countries,"

He said that Washington agreed about "confronting Iran's aggressive policies and its support for terrorism. Trump has been very clear about the need to push back against Iran."

On Sunday, the US president will join Saudi King Salman and other Muslim leaders for the Arab Islamic American Summit that aims to combat extremism and promote moderation.

King Salman has invited more than 50 Arab and Muslim leaders for the summit, where they will feast with Trump at a banquet and "forge a new partnership" in the war against extremism.

Iran and Syria have not been invited to the summit as they are not part of an Islamic military alliance that Saudi Arabia has established to fight terrorism.

The kingdom backs efforts to topple the Syrian government, which considers Iran and Russia as its closest allies.

Saudi Arabia has welcomed Trump's hard rhetoric on Iran, which contrasts with the outreach that culminated in the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Tehran.

The Sunni-ruled kingdom views Shia-ruled Iran's influence in Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Lebanon and Iraq as a danger to its security.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman has ruled out any dialogue with Iran, framing the tensions in sectarian terms and accusing Iran of trying to "control the Islamic world".

Trump's focus at the summit will also likely be on securing more multi-billion dollar military deals, advancing economic ties and isolating Iran.