Russia, Saudi Arabia discuss Iran nuclear issue

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who arrived in Riyadh Sunday evening for a two-day visit, attended a joint press conference with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Saud al-Faisal, here Sunday night.

The Russian and Saudi ministers said they had discussed Iran's nuclear activities and that the two sides believe diplomacy is the only solution to the current nuclear standoff.

Moscow believes only peaceful ways such as negotiation and diplomacy can solve Iran's nuclear case, Lavrov said, and stressed no other option would solve the problem.

Asked what the Russian government thought of the possibility of sanctions being imposed on Iran, he said his country was opposed to the use of sanctions as they have never worked in history.

He said Russia believes sanctions will bear no fruit, and that dialogue was the only way of resolving all problems of the region.

Al-Faisal, for his part, also stressed the importance of settling Iran's nuclear case through diplomatic channels and said his country also supports the idea of forging a Middle East free from weapons of mass destruction.

Riyadh supports peaceful settlement of regional problems and efforts to rid the Middle East of weapons of mass destrction which should also include Israel, he said.

Asked about the Saudi government's reaction to a draft resolution that could impose sanctions on Tehran, he said diplomatic solutions have not been exhausted and, therefore, talk of other options is premature and would not produce the desire result.