Peace in the Middle East
About this episode
Julien Barnes-Dacey interviews Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud about the implications of the Iran-US memorandum for Middle East stability and regional security.
This week, Julien Barnes-Dacey welcomes Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud , Saudi Arabia’s minister of foreign affairs, for a fireside chat at ECFR’s Annual Council Meeting. In Prince Faisal’s first public appearance since the Iran-US memorandum of understanding was announced, he and Julien discuss what the deal means for the prospect of stability in the Middle East. Prince Faisal argues that the memorandum presents an important opportunity to end the conflict and create a diplomatic path forward. While he welcomes efforts to address Iran’s nuclear programme, he stresses that long-term verification mechanisms, freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and a broader regional security dialogue are essential to building confidence and preventing future crises. He also warns that recent attacks have created a deep trust deficit between Iran and its Gulf neighbours, making any meaningful economic rapprochement a long-term challenge. Julien and Prince Faisal explore Saudi Arabia’s role in supporting diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, the need to balance deterrence with diplomatic engagement, and how regional actors can rebuild trust after the conflict. They also discuss…
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