CIA Khashoggi report ‘has no basis in truth’
Saudi foreign minister denies Crown Prince’s involvement in murder as Trump says US is committed to kingdom
Reports that the CIA believes the Saudi crown prince ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi “have no basis in truth” according to Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir.
He also said that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman is not the highranking figure meant in the Turkish statements accusing the “highest levels” of ordering Khashoggi’s murder.
“We have asked the Turkish authorities who is meant in the statements, and they have categorically assured us that the Crown Prince is not the one,” Al Jubeir said in an interview with Al Sharq Al Awsat.
Khashoggi was killed on October 2 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he walked in reportedly to obtain documents for his marriage.
Al Jubeir denied US media reports published last week that the CIA concluded Crown Prince Mohammad ordered Khashoggi’s murder.
Turkey said it had audio recordings of his brutal death and gave them to Saudi Arabia, Britain, the US, Germany and France. Al Jubeir insisted that Saudi Arabia had not received them.
“The recordings have not been issued officially and we are not sure about their validity. I have noted that they are based on an assessment, and not conclusive evidence. In any case, we know that such allegations about the crown prince are totally unfounded, and we reject them,” he said.
Al Jubeir said Saudi Arabia was keen on its strategic ties with the US that have spanned more than seven decades, stressing that the two countries shared common interests that are vital for the security and stability of the region and world.
Commenting on US sanctions placed on specific Saudi individuals which Saudi Arabia has accused of being involved in Khashoggi’s murder, Al Jubeir said: “The sanctions do not target the kingdom’s government or economy.”
‘Steadfast partner’
President Donald Trump said yesterday that the US intends to remain a “steadfast partner” of Saudi Arabia even though the Saudi Crown Prince may have known about the plan to kill journalist Khashoggi.
Trump, in a statement issued by the White House, indicated he had no intention of cancelling military contracts with Riyadh, saying, “If we foolishly cancel these contracts, Russia and China would be the enormous beneficiaries.”
Trump said US intelligence agencies were still studying the evidence of how Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate, and who planned it.