Saudi crown prince to discuss Iran's nuclear program in visit to Russia

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Saudi Crown Prince Sultan began an official visit to Russia Wednesday to discuss regional issues with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Middle East issues, including Iran's nuclear program. The royal court, in a statement, said the three-day visit, by invitation from President Putin, was as part of the kingdom's policy "to maintain contacts with world leaders in the interest of the people of Saudi Arabia and the Arab and Islamic nations issues." Aside from issues related to Iraq, Lebanon and the Middle East peace process, Saudi diplomatic sources said Prince Sultan will discuss the six Gulf Arab nations offer to Tehran to set up a consortium to provide Iran with enriched uranium to help resolve its conflict with the West over its nuclear program. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told the Middle East Economic Digest in London early this month that the six states of the Gulf Cooperation Council - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE - would take part in developing the uranium enrichment plant. He suggested Switzerland as the neutral country.