Saudi Arabia criticizes emerging U.S.-Iran deal over Strait of Hormuz plan

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud sharply criticized the developing agreement between the United States and Iran on Thursday, warning that it would impose a new and unprecedented mechanism on the Strait of Hormuz. According to a report on Kan 11, he said the waterway had been managed “very well and without any problem” before the war, and that ships used to pass freely with no security or environmental issues.

“Why now, after the conflict, should we accept a new and unprecedented mechanism that they are going to impose on these straits? It does not make sense,” he said. Faisal argued that the parties involved should return to the situation that existed before the war, “and end the story.”

The Saudi minister also said trust in Iran remains low in the kingdom because, in his words, Iran attacked not only Saudi Arabia but all the Gulf Cooperation Council states, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. He said this led to a significant loss of trust.

Faisal added that before the war, Riyadh and Tehran had been at the beginning of a process to rebuild ties after a long period in which relations were cut off. That effort, he said, had only just begun to gain momentum, but now “we have gone backward.” He said the main issue now is how to rebuild trust and revive relations.