The United States Treasury, on Thursday, imposed sanctions on seventeen Saudi Arabian officials involved in the killing of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi citizen and US permanent resident was a prominent journalist for the Washington Post, who was killed last month inside the Saudi Consulate in Turkey. The murder has since exposed the Saudi government and officials involved to serious criticism from their western allies, including the United States.
The sanctions imposed on November 15, restrict financial access to the United States system and freeze individual assets for the seventeen accused. Those sanctioned also include the ousted Saud-al-Qahtani, former top aide to the Saudi Crown Prince, and Mohammed al-Otaibi, former Saudi Consul General. The US Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin released a statement reinforcing United States solemnity around the matter and assured adverse consequences for those in the wrong.
The announcement was unusual given that the United States has always considered the Kingdom to be one of its most valued economic ally. The sanction, however, does not explicitly target the Riyadh government. Further, the Trump Administration reserves the right to ensure that any lucrative arms deal which the president has vowed to preserve is not undermined in the process.
The Thursday sanctions have been called “an important step” by the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. Post this, Canada has also been reported to seriously consider imposing the Magnitsky Act sanctions on those accused in the Jamal Khashoggi murder case.
