MANAMA – The Gulf states must be consulted if a US nuclear agreementwith Iran is revived, Saudi Arabia said Saturday, warning it is the onlypath towards a sustainable agreement.

President-elect Joe Biden has signalled he will return the United States toa nuclear accord with Iran and that he still backed the 2015 dealnegotiated under Barack Obama, from which Donald Trump withdrew.

A return to the agreement, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Planof Action (JCPOA), would delight US allies in Europe, but concern the Gulfstates, who have criticised US engagement with Tehran.

Biden has indicated he will bring Iran’s US-allied Arab neighbours, such asSaudi Arabia, which sees Iran as its arch-rival, into the process.

“Primarily what we expect is that we are fully consulted, that we and ourother regional friends are fully consulted in what goes on vis a vis thenegotiations with Iran,” Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhantold AFP.