U.S. Focused on ‘Future Conduct’ of Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi Sanctions

The United States is focused on “future conduct” of Saudi Arabia and will expect Riyadh to improve its human rights record, a U.S. spokesman said on Monday, after Washington imposed sanctions on some Saudis for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

“We are very focused on future conduct and that is part of why we have cast this not as a rupture, but as a recalibration” of U.S.-Saudi relations, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a press briefing.

“We are trying to get to the systemic issues underlying the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi,” Price said.

“We are urging Saudi Arabia to take additional steps – to lift travel bans on those released, to commute sentences and resolve cases such as those women’s rights activists and others,” he said.

The United States reserves the right to sanction Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the future if necessary, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Monday.

“Of course we reserve the right to take any action at a time and manner of our choosing,” Psaki said at a briefing, adding that, “Historically, the United States through Democratic and Republican presidents has not typically sanctioned government leaders of countries where we have diplomatic relations.”

Source: Reuters