S. Arabia Urges Negotiated Solution to Iran N. Issue

TEHRAN (FNA)- Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal called for a diplomatic solution to Iran’s stand off with the West over its nuclear program.

In a joint press conference with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Stoere in Riyadh on Monday, he also supported the Middle East countries’ right to produce nuclear energy.

“All the countries in the (Middle East) region have the right to use nuclear energy in the framework of the international regulations and standards,” IRNA quoted the Saudi foreign minister as saying.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said he has also discussed with his Norwegian counterpart cooperation between their two oil-exporting countries to stabilize oil markets as prices hit new highs.

Saudi-Norwegian cooperation “aims to stabilize the world oil market to serve the interests of producers, consumers, the oil industry, and the world economy in general,” Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters after talks with visiting Norwegian counterpart.