"There is a large shared view over a number of issues with Saudi Arabia, including the Iranian and Lebanese issues," he told AFP after he held talks with King Abdullah.

He said that the two countries are in accord "over the concern represented by the Iranian (nuclear) programme and its potential to destabilise the region."

Morin reiterated that France is ready to "increase pressure on Iran to return to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme."

Despite already being under UN Security Council sanctions, Tehran refuses to suspend its controversial programme of uranium enrichment, which the West fears to be a cover for atomic weapons development, a charge Iran denies.

The french minister began a regional tour Saturday which will also take him to the United Arab Emirates on Monday.

All rights reserved. � 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.