Saudi arabia and yemen

JEDDAH: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived Monday in Saudi Arabia for talks on coordinating with the close ally amid mounting tensions with Iran. Pompeo is expected to meet in the Red Sea city of Jeddah with King Salman and the powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, before flying for talks in the United Arab Emirates, US officials said. Both Saudi and Emirati leaders advocate a tough US approach against regional rival Iran, which last week shot down an unmanned US drone, prompting President Donald Trump to order a military strike before changing his mind. Pompeo, speaking to reporters as he left Washington, called Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates “two great allies in the challenge that Iran presents”. “We’ll be talking with them about how to make sure that we are all strategically aligned and how we can build out a global coalition,“ Pompeo said. He said the United States sought a coalition “not only throughout the Gulf states … [Read more...] about Pompeo arrives in Saudi Arabia for Iran crisis talks

RIYADH: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Jeddah on Monday (Jun 24) to consult with regional allies amid heightened tensions with Tehran after President Donald Trump called off a military strike to retaliate for Iran's downing of an unmanned American drone.The top US diplomat, who will proceed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), told reporters before departing that Washington wanted talks with Tehran even as it planned to impose "significant" new economic sanctions."We'll be talking with (Saudi Arabia and the UAE) about how to make sure that we are all strategically aligned, and how we can build out a global coalition, a coalition ... that understands this challenge," Pompeo said.Relations between longtime foes Iran and the United States have deteriorated since Trump withdrew Washington a year ago from the 2015 accord that curbed Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for easing sanctions.Tensions have flared following attacks in recent weeks on oil tankers in the … [Read more...] about Pompeo visits Saudi Arabia as US prods Iran for talks

WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday (Jun 20) added Saudi Arabia and Cuba to its blacklist of countries that it says are not doing enough to fight human trafficking, a designation that could bring sanctions.In an annual report, the State Department faulted ally Saudi Arabia for rampant violations against its vast foreign labour force and accused adversary Cuba of trafficking through its program of sending doctors overseas.Other countries that remained on Tier 3, the worst ranking in the report, included China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela.A Tier 3 designation means that the United States can restrict assistance or withdraw support for the country at the International Monetary Fund or other global development bodies.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States last year took measures against 22 countries due to the human trafficking designation."That action and the message that goes with it is very clear - if you don't stand up to trafficking, … [Read more...] about US adds Saudi Arabia, Cuba to blacklist on human trafficking

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said on Sunday that it wants to avert war in the region but stands ready to respond with “all strength” following last week’s attacks on Saudi oil assets, telling Iran that the ball was now in its court. Riyadh has accused Tehran of ordering Tuesday’s drone strikes on two oil pumping stations in the kingdom, claimed by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group. Two days earlier, four vessels, including two Saudi oil tankers, were sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Iran has denied involvement in either operation, which come as Washington and the Islamic Republic spar over sanctions and the US military presence in the region, raising concerns about a potential US-Iran conflict. “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not want a war in the region nor does it seek that,“ Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir told a news conference. “It will do what it can to prevent this war and at the same time it … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia says it seeks to avert war, ball in Iran’s court