Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has said he does not see Donald Trump’s new administration contributing to the risk of a war between Israel and Iran, addressing an issue the region has feared since the start of Israel’s fighting in Gaza, Reuters reports.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud also told the Davos gathering he hoped President Trump’s approach to Iran would be met with a willingness by Tehran to positively engage with the US administration and address the issue of its nuclear programme.

“Obviously a war between Iran and Israel, any war in our region is something we should try to avoid as much as possible,” Prince Faisal said, speaking during the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Switzerland.

“I don’t see the incoming US administration as contributory to the risk of war, on the contrary, President Trump has been quite clear he does not favour conflict.”