Biden says US would use force as ‘last resort’ to prevent Iranian nuclear weapons
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fired back at President Joe Biden when he was confronted about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi during the highly controversial meeting between the two leaders.
A source said that – when confronted about ordering the death of Saudi dissident and Washington Post journalist Khashoggi – MBS brought up two incidents that he said reflected badly on the US: the US military abuse of prisoners at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison and the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
Mr Biden told reporters that he had pressed MBS about Khashoggi’s “outrageous” murder during a wide-ranging meeting between US and Saudi top officials.
“I made my view crystal clear … for an American president to be silent on an issue of human rights is inconsistent with who we are and with who I am,” he said.
This came after Mr Biden came under fire for fist-bumping the man believed to have ordered the death of Khashoggi.
The president’s Middle East trip also continued on Saturday with a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Kadhimi in Jeddah where they discussed the two nations’ bilateral partnership and their determination to ensure that ISIS can never resurge.
MBS fires back at Biden with America’s own controveries
Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman fired back at Joe Biden with America’s own controversies when the US president confronted him over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, it has been revealed.
A source familiar with Friday’s controversial meeting between the two leaders told CNN that the crown prince, known as MBS, responded by bringing up the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and incidents where US soldiers abused prisoners at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib detention centre.
The source said that MBS told Mr Biden that the two incidents reflected badly on the US.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
MBS fired back at Biden when confronted over Khashoggi’s murder
The Saudi crown prince brought up the death of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and incidents where US soldiers abused Iraqi prisoners
Rachel Sharp16 July 2022 21:10
Iran imposes sanctions on 61 Americans including Mike Pompeo
Iran has imposed a fresh round of sanctions on 61 Americans including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and ex-White House national security adviser John Bolton.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that it had imposed sanctions on the group of Americans who had voiced support for Iranian dissident group Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK).
The nation has introduced sanctions on more than 70 other Americans so far this year, as hopes of reviving the 2015 nuclear deal continue to stall.
President Joe Biden is seeking to reenter the nuclear deal which was reached under the Obama administration before being dismantled by the Trump administration.
The new raft of sanctions were handed down the same day that President Joe Biden spoke to a group of leaders in the Middle East, saying that Iran never get nuclear weapons.
Rachel Sharp16 July 2022 20:40
Saudi crown prince unrealistic emission policies will lead to ‘unprecedented’ inflation
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that “unrealistic” emission policies will lead to “unprecedented” inflation, with more investment is needed in fossil fuel and clean energy technologies.
Speaking at the Gulf Cooperation Council on Saturday, MBS spoke about the global demand for oil as gas prices continue to soar.
“Adopting unrealistic policies to reduce emissions by excluding main sources of energy will lead in coming years to unprecedented inflation and an increase in energy prices, and rising unemployment and a worsening of serious social and security problems,” he said.
The…
Read More: Biden news today: MBS hits back at President over Jamal Khashoggi murder