Oman Observer

Clinton meets Saudi king over Iran, Mideast peace
RIYADH — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held long talks with Saudi leaders yesterday aiming to rally support for tough new UN sanctions against Iran. Clinton and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz met for talks at Rawdat Khurayim, 35 km northeast of Riyadh. No details immediately emerged as subsequent private talks ran over two-and-a-half hours. She flew in from Qatar earlier yesterday on her first visit to the kingdom.

The chief US diplomat first went straight into talks with her Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al Faisal at Riyadh airport before heading to the desert camp. Aides said she would press Saudi leaders to use their influence with China to secure a change of heart on sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme. China appears to be the strongest holdout to sanctions among the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Clinton’s top assistant for the Middle East, Jeffrey Feltman, told reporters travelling with her that China had an “important trading relationship” with Saudi Arabia. “We would expect them (the Saudis) ... to use their relationship in ways that can help increase the pressure that Iran feels,” said Feltman, the assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs.

Speaking to students earlier in neighbouring Qatar, Clinton said the United States was not aiming to use military action to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions but rather seeking to build support for tough new sanctions at the UN Security Council. In Riyadh, Saudi leaders were also expected to raise the Middle East peace process in their talks with Clinton amid growing frustration with the failure of US efforts to secure a relaunch of talks frozen since Israel launched its devastating offensive against Gaza in December 2008.

“The peace process is the main issue, of course,” said Saudi foreign ministry spokesman Osama Nugali. “Our position is still the same... that we need to revive the peace process.” In Qatar, Clinton said she was optimistic that talks would resume this year. “I’m hopeful that this year will see the commencement of serious negotiations.” US Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell has proposed that Israel and the Palestinians hold indirect talks over a three-month period to get round Israel’s refusal to accept Palestinian demands for a complete freeze on settlement construction before any direct negotiations.