Saudi Arabia: US Senate Vote ‘Interference
TEHRAN(Basirat): Saudi Arabia on Monday slammed as “interference” US Senate resolutions over its war in Yemen and critic Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, warning that the move could have repercussions on its strategic ties with Washington.
The Republican-controlled Senate voted on Thursday to end American military
support for a Riyadh-led war in Yemen, and separately held Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman responsible for Khashoggi’s killing.
The largely symbolic vote dealt a fresh warning to President Donald Trump, who
has staunchly backed the Saudi regime in the face of intense global outrage.
"The kingdom condemns the latest position of the US Senate that was based on
unsubstantiated allegations and rejects the blatant interference in its internal
affairs,” the foreign ministry said in a statement released by the official
Saudi Press Agency.
On the Yemen measure, which more broadly attacks the president’s prerogative to
launch military action, 49 Democrats or their allies voted in favor, along with
seven Republicans, while another three Republicans abstained.
The Senate also approved a resolution condemning Khashoggi’s murder and calling
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, "responsible”
for it.
The Saudi ministry warned that the kingdom would not tolerate any "disrespect”
of its rulers.
"This position by the US Senate sends the wrong messages to all those who want
to cause a rift in Saudi-US relationship,” the ministry said.
"The kingdom hopes that it is not drawn into domestic political debates in the
US to avoid any… significant negative impact on this important strategic
relationship.”
Source: AlManar
