Putin says Russia can play key role in Middle East, has good Iran ties

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 told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV in an interview broadcast Sunday.

He also said Iran’s missile program should be dealt with as a separate matter to its nuclear program.

"It is possible, and we should discuss Iran's missiles program... but the missile program is one thing and the nuclear program is another thing," Putin was quoted as saying.

On his first visit to Saudi Arabia in more than a decade, Putin said nobody in Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates wants 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.