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France will not take any decisions on its relationship with Saudi Arabia until the facts surrounding the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi are clear, a source in President Emmanuel Macron's Elysee office said on Wednesday.
"If decisions are to be taken in the future, they will be taken but based on facts that have been clarified and responsibilities that have been clearly established," the source said.
"We won't take any hasty decision on the future of our strategic relationship," the source added.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia would not have murdered prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi without American protection, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Saudi authorities staged the "worst cover-up ever" in the killing of Khashoggi in Turkey this month, as the United States vowed to revoke the visas of some of those believed to be responsible."No one would imagine that in today's world and a new century that we would witness such an organised murder and a system would plan out such a heinous murder," Rouhani said, according to IRNA.Europe’s interest is to clear Khashoggi case: Tusk"I don't think that a country would dare commit such a crime without the protection of America."Iran and Saudi Arabia are regional rivals and have supported opposing sides in the conflicts in Syria and Yemen and different political factions in Iraq and Lebanon.U.S. protection has allowed Saudi Arabia to carry out bombings against civilians in Yemen's war, Rouhani said, according to IRNA."If there was no American protection, would the people of Yemen still have faced the same brutal bombing?" Rouhani said.Erdoğan says will not let those responsible for Khashoggi killing avoid justiceKhashoggi body double used ‘to aid cover-up’ of killing: APUN would investigate Khashoggi if Turkey requests
Iran: Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without US protection
Khashoggi's death in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 has triggered global outrage. Saudi officials have acknowledged that Saudi operatives were responsible for his death, but the explanation around precisely how he was killed and why have shifted.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday called the killing a "monstrosity" and vowed to halt German arms exports to Riyadh until the case is cleared up.
But Macron on Tuesday refused to take questions about halting arms sales. From 2008-17, Saudi Arabia was the second-biggest purchaser of French arms, with deals totalling more than 11 billion euros.
The only European interest is to reveal all the details of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the EU Council president said on Wednesday.Addressing the European Parliament’s plenary session in the eastern French city of Strasbourg, Donald Tusk said the killing of Khashoggi is a "a horrible crime"."It is not my role to state who wants to protect whose interests here. But I know one thing: the only European interest is to reveal all the details of this case, regardless of who is behind it," Tusk said.“Even the slightest trace of hypocrisy would bring shame on us,” he added.Erdoğan says will not let those responsible for Khashoggi killing avoid justiceKhashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, had gone missing since entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After days of denying to know his whereabouts, Saudi Arabia last week claimed Khashoggi died during a fight inside the consulate.But Khashoggi's body has not been recovered, and Riyadh has yet to explain its shifting narrative on what transpired."Knowing your sensitivity and determination, I believe that you will not allow for Europe, the Member States or the institutions, to become involved in any ambiguous game," Tusk said.Khashoggi body double used ‘to aid cover-up’ of killing: APOn the day of Khashoggi’s disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday laid out his country’s initial findings in its investigation, saying Khashoggi's murder was "premeditated".Erdoğan said all information and evidence that has been uncovered showed Khashoggi was the victim of a brutal murder.World media covers Erdoğan’s speech on Khashoggi murderSaudi Arabia will not penalize banks that boycotted conferenceSaudi crown prince to address investment forum amid Khashoggi furore
Europe’s interest is to clear Khashoggi case: Tusk
Turkey's president insisted on Wednesday his country would not allow those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's killing to avoid justice, keeping up pressure on Riyadh amid global scepticism over varying Saudi accounts of the prominent journalist's death.President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Saudi authorities staged the "worst cover-up ever" in the killing of Khashoggi in Turkey this month, as the United States vowed to revoke the visas of some of those believed to be responsible."We are determined not to allow a cover-up of this murder and to make sure all those responsible - from those who ordered it to those who carried it out - will not be allowed to avoid justice," Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a speech in Ankara.He said some people were uncomfortable with him sharing evidence in a speech on Tuesday about a killing stirring global outrage and straining ties between Riyadh and the West.Video: Erdoğan says Turkey has strong evidence Khashoggi murder was ‘premeditated’But he added: "We will continue to share new evidence transparently with our counterparts to enlighten the dark sides of this murder."On Tuesday Erdoğan urged Riyadh to search "from top to bottom" to uncover those behind the death of the veteran Saudi journalist in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.CIA Director Gina Haspel, in Turkey to investigate the death of Khashoggi, has sought to hear the purported audio recording of his torture and murder, four sources familiar with her mission told Reuters.For Saudi Arabia’s allies, the question will be whether they believe that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has painted himself as a reformer, has any culpability in the killing, a possibility raised by several U.S. lawmakers.Khashoggi body double used ‘to aid cover-up’ of killing: APCONFLICTING ACCOUNTSSaudi Arabia has given conflicting accounts about Khashoggi's killing, first denying his death and later saying that Khashoggi - a U.S. resident and columnist for the Washington Post - died inside the consulate after a fight.On Sunday Riyadh called the killing a "huge and grave mistake," but sought to shield the crown prince from the widening crisis, saying Mohammed bin Salman had not been aware.Saudi Arabia has detained 18 people and dismissed five senior government officials as part of the investigation. One of those fired includes Saud al-Qahtani, a top aide to Prince Mohammed. According to two intelligence sources, Qahtani ran Khashoggi's killing by giving orders over Skype.Iran: Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without US protectionTurkish security sources say that when Khashoggi entered the consulate, he was seized by 15 Saudi intelligence operatives who had flown in on two jets just hours before.The weeks of denial and lack of credible evidence in the face of allegations from Turkish officials that Khashoggi had been killed have shaken global confidence in ties with the world's top oil exporter.In the latest sign of unease, Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said the killing pointed clearly to a violation of human rights that required a review of Switzerland's ties to Riyadh.Europe’s interest is to clear Khashoggi case: Tusk"On Monday, we demanded for a third time via a Saudi embassy employee that the affair be quickly explained," Cassis told Swiss tabloid Blick. "Every day, we get another smidgen of new information. That's regrettable.""The clues that are emerging centimeter by centimeter speak a clear language: A violation of human rights and the rule of law," he added. "We have to ask ourselves the question of what that means for our bilateral relations. And we will definitely do that."Separately, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, a regional rival of Saudi Arabia, said Riyadh would not have murdered Khashoggi without American protection, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). UN would investigate Khashoggi if Turkey requestsWho is al-Madani, Khashoggi’s body double?US complicity in Saudi abuses starker than before
Turkey won't let Khashoggi killers escape justice: Erdoğan