Report: Recent Developments Compelled Postponement of Suleiman's Gulf Tour
Hopes for a breakthrough in the 30-year estrangement between the U.S. and Iran had an impact on President Michel Suleiman's Gulf tour that was gradually postponed, local newspapers reported on Tuesday.
According to As Safir newspaper, Saudi Arabia postponed Suleiman's visit to Riyadh over the international and regional developments.
The newspaper reported that the United Arab Emirates also failed to announce the reasons behind the postponement.
Baabda Palace sources told An Nahar newspaper that Suleiman's visit to UAE on Wednesday was mere media speculations, pointing out that the two countries are setting a date that would be announced later.
Iran's newly elected President Hassan Rouhani on Friday spoke by telephone to his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama, the first contact between the nations' leaders since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Diplomatic sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper that the Saudi postponement affected Suleiman's gulf tour.
Suleiman was scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
“Consultations to determine a date for Suleiman's visit to Kuwait was awaiting his visit to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi,” the sources pointed out.
On Monday, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri said that Suleiman postponed his visit to Saudi Arabia after consultations between the Saudi and Lebanese Authorities.
He explained that the visit will be “postponed to a date that will be set later on.”
He was scheduled to hold talks in Saudi Arabia with King Abdullah and former Premier Saad Hariri.
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