Ex-diplomat: U.S. used Khashoggi case to pressure on Saudi Arabia
Former Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Ahmad Dastmalchian told ILNA news agency that since Bin Salman played a role in the assassination of the Saudi news reporter Jamal Khashoggi, he was after turning the aforementioned case into a civil matter so that it would not receive international development.
Speaking to ILNA’s news correspondent, he added “Ever since Khashoggi’s assassination, Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul has been subject to many reactions from his co-workers at The Washington Post and human rights activists, showing that the international reputation of the royal family is also riding on this case.”
“Many documents stand as evidence that the prince of Saudi Arabia gave the order of Khashoggi’s assassination, but at the end of the day it is the recently disclosed information from the judicial system of Saudi Arabia that determines the fate of this case.”
“America has used this case to pressure Saudi Arabia and demand for their military expenses,” the former Iranian ambassador to Jordan said.
In regards to reasons for setting up the newest wave of reforms in Saudi Arabia at the same time as the publication of Khashoggi’s case verdicts states, Dastmalchian said that one event that has taken place recently is the disclosure of new reform plans for Saudi Arabia; this is so that the Saudis will have no intentions of exploiting the country’s current situation in favor of sovereignty or even the prosecution of Khashoggi’s case.
Iran’s former ambassador to Lebanon confirmed “Many believe that Khashoggi’s case throughout this past year has been of no interest to the media, human rights activists, and countries that claim to fight for human rights; the inclusion of Turkey clearly shows that the case is interesting to those who keep up with it, however.”
“Ankara has also shown up on the scene in opposition to the Saudis and Riyadh.”
“Due to this reason, international reactions will continue even after the judicial system’s announcement from Saudi Arabia’s court, which means that the Saudis need to come up with another course of action if they want to boycott this entire situation,” ex-diplomat said.
Dastmalchian added “Riyadh is attempting to control the thoughts of Saudi Arabia’s public. As an example, news of the arrest of a couple of Saudi women in Saudi Arabia because they did not have their hijab on spread a few days ago, but a while later their release from jail was announced; as if to say that the situation in Saudi Arabia is completely normal and under control.”
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