US to issue statement on Saudi Arabia in Jamal Khashoggi case on Monday

A day after declassifying the report on Jamal Khashoggi’s killing, President Joe Biden has said that they would be releasing the US stance regarding Saudi Arabia on Monday. 

“There’ll be an announcement on Monday on what we’re going to be doing with Saudi Arabia generally,” said Biden on Saturday, reports The Guardian.  

Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated after being lured into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, 2018

Also Read: Saudi crown prince approved Jamal Khashoggi’s killing, US declassified report says

The Office of Director of National Intelligence released an intelligence report to US Congress, finding the Saudi crown prince “approved” Jamal Khashoggi’s killing. While sanctions were announced on 76 Saudis and their visa banned, no action was taken against the crown prince. 

The new announcement comes after many Saudi dissents expressed anger that even after the confirmation, the US didn’t immediately impose sanctions on Prince Mohammed bin Salman after confirming his involvement in the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.  

Also Read: 7 Rapid Intervention Force members: What US declassified report says about Jamal Khashoggi’s killing

The released report said, “We base this assessment on the Crown Prince’s control of decision-making in the Kingdom, the direct involvement of a key adviser and members of Muhammad bin Salman’s protective detail in the operation, and the Crown Prince’s support for using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad, including Khashoggi.”

Biden is being looked at to take a concrete decision and to penalise the crown prince. Riyadh had, eventually, admitted that Khashoggi was killed in a “rogue” extradition operation gone wrong, but had denied any involvement by the crown prince.