Although he promised to punish Saudi officials involved in the assassination of journalist Jamal Ahmad Khushkji, President of the United States Joe Biden Refused today (Saturday) to impose sanctions on the regent, Muhammad bin Salman.
However, according to US sources, the sanctions will be imposed on senior Saudi officials, in an attempt to maintain relations between the two countries. Also last night, the US president spoke with the Saudi king and said that Saudi Arabia would be held responsible for human rights violations, and later, the United States would announce significant changes in relations between the countries.
Jamal Khushkji (Photo: Reuters)“I have spoken to the king and made it clear to him that the rules will change, and we are going to point to significant steps on Sunday-Monday. We will hold them accountable for human rights violations,” Biden said.
This, following the American intelligence report published on Friday on the murder of the Saudi journalist, in which it was determined that the regent confirmed and apparently ordered the operation for his abduction and assassination in Istanbul, in 2018.
“We estimate that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman has approved the operation in Istanbul to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khushkji,” the report said. They added: “We base this assessment on the Crown Prince’s control of the kingdom’s decisions, the direct involvement of a key adviser and members of Muhammad bin Salman’s defensive individual, and the Crown Prince’s support for the use of violent measures to silence opponents abroad, including Hashukaji.”