Saudis reject sanctions
AS outrage mounts across the world, Saudi Arabia warned yesterday it would fight back against any attempt to punish it for this month’s disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi – including taking economic action.
Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post columnist critical of Riyadh’s policies, disappeared on October 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Turkey believes he was murdered and his body removed. Saudi Arabia has denied that.
US President Donald Trump has threatened “severe punishment” if Khashoggi was killed in the consulate, but said Washington would be “punishing” itself if it halted military sales to the country.
“The Kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, whether by threatening to impose economic sanctions, using political pressures, or repeating false accusations,” an official statement said.
“The Kingdom also affirms that if it receives any action, it will respond with greater action, and that the Kingdom’s economy has an influential and vital role in the global economy.”
The Saudi Embassy in Washington later tweeted what it called a clarification, thanking countries including the United States “for refraining from jumping to conclusions” over the case.