US President Joe Biden called Saudi Arabian King Salman as his administration is set to release a congressionally mandated declassified version of an intelligence report that is expected to find Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Iran PressAmerica: According to the White House, during the call, Biden and Salman “discussed regional security, including the renewed diplomatic efforts led by the United Nations and the United States to end the war in Yemen, and the US commitment to help Saudi Arabia defending its territory.”

The White House readout of the call noted the recent release of several Saudi American activists and Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul from custody and affirmed the importance the US places on universal human rights and the rule of law. It did not mention the report on Khashoggi, scheduled to be released after the call.

Jamal Khashoggi, a known critic of the Saudi regime, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Turkey on 2 October 2018, while trying to obtain marriage papers. Both the CIA and the United Nations have concluded that the Crown Prince either ordered the murder or was aware of it before it took place.

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