Intel: How Khashoggi’s killing risks derailing US-Saudi nuclear talks

Al-Monitor Staff

An activist holds an image of missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a demonstration calling for sanctions against Saudi Arabia and to protest Khashoggi's disappearance, outside the White House in Washington, U.S., October 19, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis - RC1F626030D0 — An activist holds an image of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a demonstration calling for sanctions against Saudi Arabia and to protest Khashoggi's disappearance outside the White House in Washington, US, Oct. 19, 2018. — REUTERS/Leah Millis

Key Republicans are putting the brakes on a nuclear cooperation deal with Riyadh as blowback over the slaying of journalist Jamal Khashoggi continues.

Five Republican senators have asked President Donald Trump to end talks with Saudi Arabia over a deal that would allow Riyadh to develop a civilian nuclear program using US technology. The quintet sent a letter to Trump today threatening to block any such deal with the Saudis, citing the Khashoggi affair, the Yemen war and last year’s bizarre alleged detention of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

“The ongoing revelations about the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as well as certain Saudi actions related to Yemen and Lebanon, have raised further serious concerns about the transparency, accountability and judgement of current decision-makers in Saudi Arabia,” the senators wrote. “In turn, these serious questions have solidified our reservations about pursuing a potential US civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia.”

If Trump goes ahead with a deal, the senators wrote, they will introduce legislation to block it.

Intel: How Khashoggi’s killing risks derailing US-Saudi nuclear talks

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