Saudi hopes Iran ends 'interference' after nuclear deal.

Riyadh

Saudi Arabia expressed hope Tuesday for an end to Iran's regional "interference" after a historic nuclear deal aimed at ensuring its Middle East rival does not obtain an atomic bomb.

Two of the kingdom's fellow Sunni-run Gulf neighbours also expressed hope for better relations with Shiite-dominated Iran.

"Given that Iran is a neighbour, Saudi Arabia hopes to build with her better relations in all areas on the basis of good neighbourliness and non-interference in internal affairs," said an official spokesman cited by the Saudi Press Agency.

"Iran should, with the conclusion of this accord, put her resources towards its development and amelioration of the condition of the Iranian people instead of provoking troubles which would generate certain reactions from countries in the region."

The Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, have concerns that Iran could still be able to develop a weapon under the agreement between Tehran and six major powers.

They also worry that their traditional defence partner, Washington, is not taking seriously enough their concerns about what they consider Iran's "destabilising acts" in Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East.

The Vienna agreement puts strict limits on Iran's nuclear activities for at least a decade and calls for stringent UN oversight.

In return, painful international sanctions that have slashed Iran's oil exports and choked its economy will be lifted and billions of dollars in frozen assets unblocked.

To counter Iran, Saudi Arabia is pursuing its own nuclear projects and building alliances beyond its ties with Washington.