Saudi Foreign Minister: Iran's Nuclear Agreement is 'Full of Flaws'

On Monday, March 19, the Saudi Foreign Minister criticized the nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the JCPOA, stating that it is 'full of flaws.' Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in Washington, 'Our view is that this nuclear agreement is full of flaws.' Riyadh's perspective on the JCPOA aligns closely with that of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has also criticized the agreement, stating that it must either be amended or the U.S. will withdraw from it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also a serious critic of this agreement. The Saudi state news agency reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Minister of Defense will visit cities such as New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston during their trip to the U.S. This is Mohammed bin Salman's first visit to the U.S. since becoming Crown Prince. He had previously traveled to the UK for his first trip in that capacity. Mohammed bin Salman is scheduled to meet with Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. On January 12, Trump issued an ultimatum to the European Troika, including the UK, France, and Germany, to either amend the JCPOA or he would not sign the continuation of U.S. sanctions suspension. The President must sign the suspension of sanctions every three months, with the next deadline on May 12, 2018. Bob Corker, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that it does not seem Trump intends to extend the JCPOA. In response to whether he believes Trump will withdraw from the agreement with Iran on May 12, Corker said, 'Yes, yes.' Iran and six world powers, including the U.S., Russia, China, France, the UK, and Germany, reached an agreement in July 2015 regarding limitations or the end of various nuclear activities on one side and the lifting of international sanctions against it on the other. Before arriving in the U.S., Mohammed bin Salman stated in an interview with NBC's '60 Minutes' that if Iran obtains a nuclear bomb, Saudi Arabia will quickly pursue the same path.