Saudi Arabia and UAE joined Israel to welcome US President Donald Trump's decision on Tuesday (May 8) to withdraw the United States from the international nuclear agreement with Iran formally known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA).
“The kingdom supports and welcomes the steps announced by the US president towards withdrawing from the nuclear deal… and reinstating economic sanctions against Iran,” the foreign ministry said late Tuesday.
The kingdom, a key U.S. ally, said it would work with the United States and the so-called " international community" to address Iran's nuclear programme as well as its ballistic missile programme and support of militant groups in the region.
"Iran used economic gains from the lifting of sanctions to continue its activities to destabilise the region, particularly by developing ballistic missiles and supporting terrorist groups in the region," Saudi Foreign Ministry statement asserted.
Riyadh’s allies in the Persian Gulf, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, also issued statements via their foreign ministries in support of Trump’s decision, which has thrown a wrench between the United States, Europe and their allies in the region.
It confirmed "the need to deal with the danger that Iran's policies pose to international peace and security through a comprehensive view that is not limited to its nuclear programme but also includes all hostile activities" in the region,the statement added.
The 2015 deal, the signature foreign policy achievement of Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for Tehran limiting its nuclear programme.
Trump has frequently criticised the Iran accord because it does not address Iran's ballistic missile programme and its role in conflicts in Yemen and Syria, its nuclear activities beyond 2025, and the terms under which international inspectors can visit suspect Iranian nuclear sites.
Saudi Arabia has called the 2015 nuclear deal a "flawed agreement", and in March Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told CBS news that his kingdom would "without a doubt" develop nuclear weapons if Iran did so.
