Saudi cabinet calls for firm stand on Iran nuclear violations

UN weapons inspectors have visited the second of two suspected nuclear sites in Iran

A handout photo made available by the Saudi press Agency (SPA) on September 23, 2020, shows King Salman bin Abdulaziz delivering a speech from his residence in Neom during the virtual 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. AFP via SPAShow less

Saudi Arabia’s cabinet said the international community must take a firm stance on Iran and deal seriously against violations related to its nuclear programme, the state news agency reported in a statement early on Wednesday.

The announcement comes after weapons inspectors surveyed the second of two suspected nuclear sites in Iran following an agreement with Tehran last month that ended a standoff over access, the UN nuclear watchdog said in a statement on Wednesday.

"As part of an agreement with Iran to resolve safeguards implementation issues specified by the IAEA, the agency this week conducted a complementary access at the second location in the country and took environmental samples," the International Atomic Energy Agency said.

Late last month Iran announced it would allow the IAEA access to two sites – their exact locations have not been made public – following a visit to Tehran by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

Iran had denied the agency access to the locations earlier this year, prompting the IAEA's board of governors to pass a resolution in June urging Iran to comply with its requests.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman reiterated calls for a comprehensive solution on Iran, warning that the country has used the 2015 nuclear deal as a cover to “intensify its expansionist activities, creates its terrorist networks and use terrorism." This has produced nothing but "chaos, extremism, and sectarianism," he added.

Hezbollah, Iran’s affiliate in Lebanon, “must be disarmed for the Lebanese to achieve security, stability and prosperity,” he said, adding that the group’s hegemony over the decision-making process in Lebanon by force of arms was responsible for the August 4 port blast that devastated Beirut.

"Our experience with the Iranian regime has taught us that partial solutions and appeasement did not stop its threats to international peace and security," King Salman said.