Iran Press/ America: The statement says US intelligence agencies are still assessing information on Khashoggi's murder and there is a strong possibility, that the Saudi crown prince had been aware of the incident.
Trump said, “It could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event - maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!”
“We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Jamal Khashoggi,” US president continued. “In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
In his statement, Trump also repeated the Al-e-Saud claim that the murdered journalist was an ‘enemy of the state’.
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However, Trump refused to strongly criticize Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince, no doubt mindful of the fact that Saudi Arabia had signed a massive arms-purchasing deal with the US last year.
Despite Trump's stance and his backing for the crown prince, world public opinion is against the Saudi Royal family, angered by the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by 'a kill team' sent from Riyadh.
Most countries in the world are convinced that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the Khashoggi murder.
They know, in the execution of Bin Salman's order, Khashoggi's corpse has been dismembered ??at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.
Even the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said 'with a high degree of confidence' that Mohammad Bin Salman probably ordered the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Meanwhile Congressmen in the House are considering an arms sales ban on Saudi Arabia.
The US Congress wants to pressure Riyadh to stop the disastrous war in Yemen.
Some US Congress members have even floated the idea that Bin Salman should not become the next king of Saudi Arabia.
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Democrats aim to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi
However, it seems, Trump intends to stand alone against the wave of global protests against Saudi repression and regional adventures by Saudi crown prince.
The Trump's approach has even exacerbated the anger of fellow Republicans in Congress.
US republican Senator Bob Corker, the chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has criticized Trump's statement in support of Saudi Arabia on Twitter:
"I never thought I’d see the day a White House would moonlight as a public relations firm for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia,” Corker wrote in a tweet.
Another republican senator, Rand Paul, also has criticized Trump's statement.
“I’m pretty sure this statement is Saudi Arabia First, not America First. I’m also pretty sure John Bolton wrote it,” Paul said, referring to Trump’s national security adviser.
The policy of "Saudi Arabia First", followed by Trump in the West Asia region, has led to a major crisis.
Bin Salman who was backed by unconditional support from the White House, has launched the biggest human tragedy in Yemen, and has also blockaded Qatar.
Bin Salman also forced Lebanon's prime minister to resign in an attempted kidnapping operation.
And finally, he has slaughtered a critic journalist and columnist of an influential US newspaper in Saudi consulate in Turkey.
These incidents happened before the controversial statement by Trump was released on Tuesday.
Hence, it is expected, with US president's green light, the Saudi Royal family can go on committing more terrible crimes.
This approach, as clear as possible, shows the sacrifice of moral and human values by the US government for Saudi petrodollars. 101/210
Author: Amir Ali Abolfath
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Zarif slams Trump's anti- Iran statement on Khashoggi
