Saudi Crown Prince MbS says getting 'closer' to Israel normalisation

Saudi Crown Prince MbS said talks to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia are progressing. He noted the importance of the Palestinian issue and voiced concern about Iran potentially obtaining a nuclear weapon. Biden and Netanyahu pledged to work together to achieve normalization, which could reshape the Middle East. MbS warned that if Iran gets a nuclear weapon, "we have to get one."

Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a U.S. television interview that his country was moving steadily closer to normalizing relations with Israel and also warned that if Iran gets a nuclear weapon, “we have to get one.”

"Every day we get closer," the crown prince told Fox News according to excerpts of an interview to be shown later, when asked to characterise talks aimed at long-time foes Israel and Saudi Arabia reaching a landmark agreement to open diplomatic relations.

The conservative U.S. network’s interview with the crown prince, widely known as MbS, comes as President Joe Biden’s administration presses ahead with an effort to broker historic ties between the two regional powerhouses, Washington’s top Middle East allies.

The normalization talks are the centerpiece of complex negotiations that also include discussions of U.S. security guarantees and civilian nuclear help that Riyadh has sought, as well as possible Israeli concessions to the Palestinians.

“For us, the Palestinian issue is very important. We need to solve that part,” MbS said when asked what it would take to get a normalization agreement. “And we have a good negotiations continue until now.”

“We got to see where we go. We hope that will reach a place, that it will ease the life of the Palestinians, get Israel as a player in the Middle East,” he said, speaking in English.

MbS also voiced concern about the possibility of Iran, a mutual adversary of Saudi Arabia and Israel that the U.S. wants to contain, could obtain a nuclear weapon. Tehran has denied seeking a nuclear bomb.