United States Middle East policies are now under scrutiny after President Joe Biden stated that Saudi Arabia faced “consequences” in the wake of cuts in OPEC+ production. OPEC+ cut in oil output.
When he gave his CNN interview on Tuesday. Joe Biden did not endorse a proposal from a few Democrats to cut ties with Riyadh. Also, Biden did not let the US president endorse a bill by the senator Richard Blumenthal. Furthermore, House member Rohit Khanna to stop selling arms to Saudis for a certain time period.
But with the Democratic Party fearing higher gasoline prices. Thus, will harm its chances in November 8 midterm Congressional elections. Joe Biden addressed concerns that the Saudis had agreed the 2-million-barrels-a-day output cut with Russia. The other leading OPEC+ member. Obviously, just as the US is backing Ukraine against Russian military.
Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat has mentioned the OPEC+ decision to pledge. Hence, as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to fight any future arms sales towards the Saudis. There are as well Democrat concerned about the human rights record of Saudi Arabia in the home country. Furthermore, its seven-year war in Yemen in which its economic blockade has resulted in 3.5 million people. Thus, suffering from acute malnutrition.
Joe Biden became president in 2021. Furthermore, pledged to ensure that the United States holds Saudi Arabia accountable. That is, for the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In addition to this, was then famously ‘fist-bump the his way. Obviously, into the July Saudi King Prince Mohammad bin Salman al-Saud. The one who US intelligence estimates was to be the one responsible for the murder.
Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Tehran:
But , given that talks over nuclear with Iran have been stymied and Tehran is repressing public protests within its borders. The question is whether any effort to reduce relationships to Saudi Arabia would not present opportunities for Iran. Precisely, throughout the Middle East.
In response to this question, State Department spokesperson Ned Price responded, “we won’t take our eye off the danger that Iran pose not only to the region. However, in some ways it is even more dangerous. We’ve witnessed us…respond and take action…against the shady acts and negative influence. Something, that Iran has carried out. Apart from this, which Iran has tried to export to this region.”
However, plans to establish a joint regional air defences against possible Iranian drone and missile threats, and other joint initiatives could be affected in the event of a cold snap in the Washington-Riyadh relationship.
Price also stressed US actions to protests in Iran and imposed sanctions on certain officials. Amnesty International has reported that Iranian security forces killed at least 130 protesters in the last week of September, including 88 from the province of Sistan-Baluchistan in the south-east. Washington, Price said, was aiming “to help these courageous Iranians…across the country’s towns and cities who are peacefully exercising their right to be free.”
‘Assassination plots’:
The critics regarding the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) that has been a priority for the Biden administration has tried to revive, as well as supporters from Saudi Arabia, have criticised the calls to reduce US relationships with Riyadh.
“I haven’t heard certain voices asking the US to halt talks that it has with Saudi Arabia…after Iran plotted to assassinate Americans on US land while US participated in JCPOA talks within Vienna,” tweeted Jason Brodsky of the advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran, Tuesday, in reference on reports by US law enforcement agencies about Iranian participation in plots to murder the former US National Security Adviser John Bolton and threats against other individuals.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told Al-Arabiya TV on Tuesday that Riyadh’s decision to cut production of oil could be “purely economical.” A few Democrats as well as Saudi dissidents have pointed out the Saudis’ ties to the former president’s entourage Donald Trump and suggested the decision was more geared towards being influential in elections in the US elections.