US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concluded his three days visit to Saudi Arabia and headed to Oman in his last stop in the Middle East. Pompeo extended his thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for his efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, saying: "Saudi Arabia remains a strong and enduring partner." The US secretary of state said on his Twitter account Friday that "he discussed the ongoing threat posed by the Iranian regime with the Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman." "We stand together with Saudi Arabia in addressing these regional security challenges." The secretary's meetings with the Saudi leadership notes the strong and enduring 75-year partnership between Saudi Arabia and the United States, spokesperson for the US Department of State Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. The secretary and the King discussed bilateral issues, including countering the malign influence of the Iranian regime, as well as the need for cooperation on regional conflicts such as Syria and Yemen. The secretary assured the Crown Prince that the United States stands with Saudi Arabia in the face of the Iranian regime threats, as reflected in the US military presence in Saudi Arabia. The secretary and the Crown Prince agreed on their support for UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths' efforts to advance the political process in Yemen. The spokesperson said that the secretary of state met with Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman, where they discussed the continued threat posed by the Iranian regime and the United States' commitment to work with Saudi Arabia to face these threats. The secretary underscored the need to implement the Riyadh Agreement to facilitate the continuation of the UN-led political process. Pompeo later Friday met Oman's new leader Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq in Muscat, Omani state media said, during the top American diplomat's final stop in a tour of African and Gulf states. Pompeo is the first high-ranking US official to meet the leader since he succeeded previous Sultan Qaboos, who died on Jan. 10 at the age of 79. Sultan Haitham discussed the "close ties" between Oman and the United States with Pompeo, the official Oman News Agency said. Pompeo arrived in Oman from Riyadh, where he reassured close Western ally Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that "the United States stands with Saudi Arabia in the face of... the continuing threat posed by the Iranian regime." — Agencies
