Biden commends Saudi role in Yemen

In long-awaited first phone call Thursday, US President Joe Biden and Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud discussed the US commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups.

Both leaders discussed key international issues including Iranian behavior in the region, and its destabilizing activities and its support for terrorist groups.

The Saudi monarch thanked the US President for the US’s commitment to defend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against such threats and to assure that Iran will not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, while Biden commended the Kingdom’s support for the United Nations efforts to reach a truce and a ceasefire in Yemen.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also held a call on Thursday with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and discussed joint efforts to bolster Saudi defenses, and cooperation on ending the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is backing the government against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, said State Department spokesman Ned Price.