DUBAI, Oct 13 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia can play a key role in the Middle East as it has good relations with Iran and the Arab world.
He was speaking in an interview with Arab broadcasters, including Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV, ahead of his first visit to Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
Putin said nobody in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates wanted a confrontation with Iran. He also said Russia was working on a free trade zone with Israel and Egypt, similar to one between Russia and Iran.
[aesop_image img=”https://kayhanlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2018-11-30T154245Z_181927202_RC1371F0A150_RTRMADP_3_G20-ARGENTINA-OPENING.jpg” panorama=”off” credit=”FILE PHOTO: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during the opening of the G20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina November 30, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Moraes” align=”center” lightbox=”on” captionsrc=”custom” captionposition=”left” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]
(Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli and Aziz El Yaakoubi Writing by Lisa Barrington Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
