Pompeo talks maritime security, Iran with Saudi Crown Prince

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Saudi Crown Prince, Pompeo, Mohammed bin Salman, Iran, yemen

Washington - The top US diplomat and the Crown Prince also discussed other bilateral and regional developments.

By AFP

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Published: Thu 8 Aug 2019, 7:13 AM

Last updated: Thu 8 Aug 2019, 9:18 AM

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed maritime security, Iran and Yemen with  Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman in a phone call on Wednesday.
"The secretary discussed heightened tensions in the region and the need for stronger maritime security in order to promote freedom of navigation," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.
Iran has seized three tanker ships in strategic Gulf waters in a month, and the United States has accused it of carrying out multiple attacks on ships in the region.
Ortagus also said that the top US diplomat and the Crown Prince "discussed other bilateral and regional developments, including countering the Iranian regime's destabilising activities."
Tensions between Washington and Tehran have soared since US President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of a nuclear deal with Iran last year and imposed punishing sanctions.

Twelve months on from the US withdrawal, Iran responded by suspending some of its commitments under the nuclear deal.
On Yemen, "the secretary and the Crown Prince reaffirmed their strong support for UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths' efforts to advance the political process," Ortagus said.


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