Saudi FM says crown prince a 'red line' in Khashoggi probe
Calls for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to be held accountable for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi are a "red line," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Wednesday.
"In Saudi Arabia, our leadership is a red line. The custodian of the two holy mosques (King Salman) and the crown prince are a red line," Jubeir said in a television interview with BBC.
"They represent every Saudi citizen and every Saudi citizen represents them. And we will not tolerate any discussion of anything that is disparaging towards our monarch or our crown prince."
Khashoggi, a U.S. resident who wrote for The Washington Post and had been critical of Prince Mohammed, was lured to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, killed and reportedly dismembered.
After lengthy denials, Saudi authorities admitted responsibility and said 21 people had been taken into custody. However, a CIA analysis leaked to the U.S. media went further, reportedly pointing the finger at the crown prince.
Jubeir insisted that Prince Mohammed had not been involved in the killing.
"We have made that very clear. We have investigations ongoing and we will punish the individuals who are responsible for this," he said.
He called on Turkey to come forward with all its evidence about the slaying and stop leaking out information.
The foreign minister said the murder was a "rogue operation" by intelligence officers.
Jubeir also said any possible American sanctions on Saudi Arabia would be short-sighted.
Trump stands by Saudi ally
President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia despite saying that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month.
"It could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn't!" Trump said in a statement issued by the White House, contradicting the CIA analysis.
Defying intense pressure from U.S. lawmakers to impose tougher sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Trump also said he would not cancel military contracts with the kingdom. He said it would be a "foolish" move that would only benefit Russia and China, competitors of the U.S. in the arms market.
In the statement, Trump stressed that Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, is an important business partner and a "great ally in our very important fight against Iran."
"Very simply it is called America first!" Trump concluded.
The U.S. president on Wednesday ignored criticism that he gave Saudi Arabia a free pass, instead praising the Islamic kingdom for keeping oil prices low.
"If we broke with them, I think your oil prices would go through the roof," Trump said on Tuesday.
"They've helped me keep them down," he said.
(Top image: Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir speaks during a news conference in the capital Riyadh.
