Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al Saud said Thursday that if the United States and Saudi Arabia reach an agreement on all issues, they might sign a defense pact before the US presidential election next week.
However, he emphasized that not all emerging bilateral agreements are directly linked to normalization with Israel.
Regarding the Palestinian state, al Saud said, “The establishment of a Palestinian state is tied to principles of international law, not recognition by Israel.”
Addressing the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release negotiations, the Saudi minister claimed they have “repeatedly collapsed due to new demands from Israel.”
On relations with Iran, al Saud reported that Tehran was in no interest in continued regional escalation. Moreover, he emphasized that Saudi-Iranian relations are “moving in the right direction,” though they remain complex due to regional dynamics.
