Trump has telephonic conversation with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

Amidst escalating tension with Iran and rising oil prices, US President Donald Trump had a telephonic conversation with Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia on Friday.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that the two leaders discussed the latest regional developments and measures to confront hostile Iranian activities. The talks took place as an unmanned US drone was shot down in the Gulf region reportedly by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Thursday.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement that the two leaders discussed



Saudi Arabia’s critical role in ensuring stability in the Middle East and in the global oil market. They also discussed the threat posed by the Iranian regime’s escalatory behaviour.

Tension in the Gulf region has been simmering over the past few months with reports of two tankers being attacked in the Gulf of Oman near the Strait of Hormuz last week.

Last month, four commercial ships, including two Saudi oil tankers, were sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The US has blamed Iran for the attacks, a charge which Tehran has denied.