Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday appealed to Saudi leaders to back a US-led drive for tough sanctions against Iran in a visit to Riyadh and came away "hopeful," his press secretary said. Ons on Iran over its nuclear programme, seeking help from an oil-rich ally amid opposition from China.
"We are certainly hopeful that the Saudis will use whatever influence they have which is considerable in this region and throughout the world to try and help us in our efforts at the UN so we can get meaningful sanctions enacted against Iran," press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters.
Gates told the Saudis that after Iran had "largely rebuffed" US overtures for a conciliatory dialogue, the Obama administration was now focused on ramping up pressure on Tehran, said a defence official who attended the talks. But Gates stressed the United States wanted to see financial sanctions targeted on Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard and not the Iranian population.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "it was our strong impression that this overall approach was one that the Saudis were supportive of." With China apparently the strongest holdout to sanctions among the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Americans have turned to their Saudi allies to persuade China to reconsider.
Washington hopes the Saudis could guarantee China stable oil supplies in the event of disruption from Iran. Although Riyadh views Iesert palace on the outskirts of Riyadh, Gates held talks with the king and his aides, followed by a sumptuous dinner and thening's half-brother and minister of defence and aviation since 1962.