In his first media interview since taking the post of Riyadh’s ambassador to Washington, Saudi Prince Khaled bin Salman told The Washington Post that the United States and its allies realize “how big the Iranian threat is to international security and are ready to work together to contain Iranian actions and expansionist policies”.

 

The newly assigned Saudi Ambassador also described the Saudi-US relations as strong and improving since President Donald Trump took office.

 

“There is a huge improvement in the Saudi-US relationship under this administration. I think that President Trump is determined to work with his allies in the region to counter Iranian expansionism and terrorism. We are happy with the current policies in the region,” Ambassador Prince Khaled told the Lally Weymouth, a senior associate editor at The Washington Post.

 

His interview with Weymouth touched upon multiple topics pertaining to the Middle East, especially on the Syria, Yemen and Iraqi front and warned of Iran’s overreaching negative influence on several parties.

 

“Yes, sectarianism always leads to terrorism. The Sunnis and [Shiites] have to be treated equally as Iraqi citizens. Iran wants Iraq to obey Iran. We support the independence of Iraq,” Prince Khaled said.

 

A younger brother to current Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Khaled is a former F-15 pilot who graduated from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi. He had earlier, in 2014, participated in the international coalition to combat ISIS as an air force pilot.