Trump Says To Discuss Situation Around Khashoggi With Saudi Crown Prince

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th October, 2018) US President Donald Trump said he will speak to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud on the situation around journalist Jamal Khashoggi, killed in the Saudi consulate in Turkey, adding that Riyadh was a great ally that Washington needed as a counterbalance to Iran in the middle East.

Earlier in the day, Saudi media reported, citing Prosecutor General Saud bin Abdullah Muajab that the journalist, who was last seen entering the consulate on October 2, had a fight with some people at the diplomatic mission which lead to his death.

"I'm going to speak to the crown prince. I've just spoken to the king and I want to speak to the crown prince ... They've been a great ally in the Middle East. We need them as a counterbalance to Iran, so it's not the simplest situation to be in ... Saudi Arabia is a great ally but what happened is unacceptable," Trump told reporters at the US Luke Air Force Base in the state of Arizona, as broadcast at the White House website.

Trump called the latest developments in the investigation into Khashoggi's disappearance a "big first step."

When asked if he considered the Saudi explanation on the journalist's disappearance credible, Trump said "I do."

Reporters also asked Trump if he considered that Saudi leaders had lied to him about what happened to Khashoggi.

"No, I don't ... I think we'll be talking to them, we'll see what happens, we may have some questions, we do have some questions and as I told you I'll be working on this with Congress," Trump said.

"I would prefer, if there is going to be some form of sanction or what we may determine to do if anything ... that we don't use as retribution canceling a $110 billion worth of work which means 600,000 jobs," Trump pointed out, referring to the arms deal that was concluded between the United States and Saudi Arabia during his last year's visit to the kingdom.