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Trump Talks to MBS despite Uproar over Khashoggi’s Killing

Trump Talks to MBS despite Uproar over Khashoggi’s Killing
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By Staff, Agencies

The White House reported that US President Donald Trump spoke by telephone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman [MBS], even as US lawmakers, including some in his party, hold the Saudi ruler responsible for the killing of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi last fall and have demanded tougher penalties against the kingdom.

Trump “had a productive conversation” with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the White House said in a statement on Tuesday night.

“They discussed Saudi Arabia’s critical role in ensuring Middle East stability, maintaining maximum pressure against Iran, and the importance of human rights issues.”

The White House, however, offered no additional details on the call.

Trump has been eager to prevent Khashoggi’s killing from complicating or weakening US ties to the Saudi Kingdom, around which the administration has built much of its Middle East strategy.

The phone call came just a day after the US State Department said it would deny entry to 16 Saudis “over their roles” in Khashoggi’s murder at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The list included Saud al-Qahtani, a senior adviser to the crown prince who had already been sanctioned over the killing.

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