Saudi backs Syria peace talks despite tensions with Iran

The Saudi foreign minister has said escalating tensions between Riyadh and Tehran would not affect Syrian peace talks. The statement comes as Kuwait recalled its ambassador from Iran in support of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Tuesday that Riyadh would not allow a diplomatic row with Iran from preventing a "political solution" for the conflict in Syria.

"The recent tensions that impacted the region negatively will not affect…the operations that the United Nations carries out alongside the international community to achieve a political solution in Geneva soon," al-Jubeir said in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Saudi Arabia, along with several other Arab nations, implemented measures against Iran after Riyadh's embassy was torched by protesters demonstrating against the kingdom's execution of Shiite cleric and Saudi critic Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

The latest country to follow suit was Kuwait, which recalled its ambassador from Iran on Tuesday, although it was unclear whether the move was indefinite or solely for consultations.
Saudi-ally Bahrain on Tuesday also suspended air links to and from Iran after it severed diplomatic relations with Shiite-majority Iran.