Saudi Arabia Vows Retaliation After Trump's 'Severe Punishment' Warning Over Missing Journalist
- 6 years ago
Saudia Arabia has vowed a response in the event of any actions against it in the case of a missing journalist.
Saudi Arabia has threatened to retaliate with "greater action" if it is punished in any way over the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
According to the Associated Press, a state-run media outlet published a statement saying: "The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, whether by threatening to impose economic sanctions, using political pressures or repeating false accusations."
"The kingdom also affirms that if it receives any action, it will respond with greater action, and that the kingdom's economy has an influential and vital role in the global economy," the statement continues.
The strong comments come after President Trump said in a CBS' "60 Minutes" interview preview clip that if the Saudi government was found to be involved in Khashoggi's disappearance, his administration "would be very upset and angry."
He also said of Khashoggi's possible death as a journalist: "There's something really terrible and disgusting about that, if that was the case, so we're going to have to see. We're going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment."
Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of Saudi leaders, was last seen on October 2 entering the Saudi consulate in Turkey.
A recent report by the Post states: "Turkey says it believes he was killed inside, telling U.S. officials that it has audio and video recordings from his final moments to prove it. Saudi Arabia has vehemently denied having anything to do with the disappearance."
Saudi Arabia has threatened to retaliate with "greater action" if it is punished in any way over the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
According to the Associated Press, a state-run media outlet published a statement saying: "The kingdom affirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it, whether by threatening to impose economic sanctions, using political pressures or repeating false accusations."
"The kingdom also affirms that if it receives any action, it will respond with greater action, and that the kingdom's economy has an influential and vital role in the global economy," the statement continues.
The strong comments come after President Trump said in a CBS' "60 Minutes" interview preview clip that if the Saudi government was found to be involved in Khashoggi's disappearance, his administration "would be very upset and angry."
He also said of Khashoggi's possible death as a journalist: "There's something really terrible and disgusting about that, if that was the case, so we're going to have to see. We're going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment."
Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of Saudi leaders, was last seen on October 2 entering the Saudi consulate in Turkey.
A recent report by the Post states: "Turkey says it believes he was killed inside, telling U.S. officials that it has audio and video recordings from his final moments to prove it. Saudi Arabia has vehemently denied having anything to do with the disappearance."