US envoy for Iran meets Saudi deputy defense minister in Riyadh
US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook met Saudi
Arabia’s Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Riyadh on Friday,
the minister tweeted.
They discussed recent attacks in the region which the United
States and Saudi Arabia blame on Iran and Iran denies being behind. Prince
Khalid affirmed Saudi support for the US campaign to pressure Tehran.
According to the New York Times, President Donald Trump
approved military strikes on Friday against Iran in retaliation for the downing
of an unmanned $130-million surveillance drone, but pulled back from launching
them.
The Global Hawk drone was shot down by an Iranian
surface-to-air missile.
The US says the unarmed drone was flying over international
waters but Iran says it was on a spy mission over its territorial waters.
The United States and Saudi Arabia are among countries that
have blamed Iran for attacks on oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, a major
transit route for global oil supplies.