عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Interviews

Saudi FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Turkey Has Not Handed Us Evidence in Khashoggi Case

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir. (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir. (Reuters)
TT
20
TT

Saudi FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Turkey Has Not Handed Us Evidence in Khashoggi Case

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir. (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir. (Reuters)

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir stressed that Turkish authorities confirmed to Riyadh that its statements over the murder of Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi were not directed at Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that some statements made from Ankara are “creating a rift in our ties.”

Moreover, he called on Turkey to provide evidence it possesses related to the Khashoggi case. The evidence should be sent to the Saudi General Prosecution to allow it to uncover all the facts.

He offered his condolences to Khashoggi’s relatives, stressing that Saudi diplomacy stands on firm ground and it will weather challenges no matter how great they are.

On the media campaign targeting the Kingdom in wake of the murder, Jubeir said that Riyadh had directed the General Prosecution to investigate the case and hold the perpetrators accountable.

The suspects have been referred to the judiciary, he added.

“The Kingdom has taken all sufficient measures to achieve justice,” declared the minister.

“The motives behind the media campaigns and politicization of the case have become obvious,” he added. “The Kingdom has long been victim to unjust media campaigns aimed at undermining its role and standing.”

Asked about the United States’ sanctioning of a number of figures related to the case, Jubeir told Asharq Al-Awsat: “Our ties with the US are strategic and we are bound by important joint interests that are vital to the security and stability of the region and world.”

“The Kingdom is keen on preserving this strategic relationship and historic partnership that has extended for over seven decades,” he remarked.

“We also appreciate the American administration’s interest and hail the stances of friendly nations from around the world in the Khashoggi case,” he continued.

The sanctions, he clarified, did not target the Saudi government or its economy, but only individuals.

On Turkish calls for an international investigation, Jubeir said: “We completely reject all attempts to politicize the case. Those seeking justice must go ahead and present what evidence they have to the Saudi judiciary.”

Asked if he believes that Ankara was seeking to politicize the case, he replied: “Saudi Arabia and Turkey are important countries in the Muslim world and they are bound by historic ties. Unfortunately, statements issued by some Turkish individuals do not serve this purpose.”

“Such remarks create a rift between us and Ankara. We do not want that because it will distance us from important issues, such as Islamic unity,” he went on to say. “Any politicization does not serve Saudi-Turkish ties.”

On Turkish hints that Crown Prince Mohammed had ordered Khashoggi’s murder, Jubeir said: “We had inquired about this and we were informed that he was not the target.”

“Our priority is to gather enough evidence and information to ensure the success of the investigations and steer them clear of media speculation,” he remarked.

At this, he declared: “The Saudi leadership, represented by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed are a red line and we will stand against attempts to undermine or harm them.”

On CIA claims that the Crown Prince had ordered Khashoggi’s murder, Jubeir said: “We read the media reports. They are leaks that are not based on damning evidence.

“At any rate, we in the Kingdom know that such claims are completely baseless,” he added.

On international reactions to the Saudi General Prosecution’s release of its findings on Thursday, he said: “The Kingdom is not investigating the case for the sake of the general public. We are investigating it because it is linked to the murder of a Saudi citizen.”

Asked about why the Saudi account of the murder kept on changing, he said: “The team that committed the crime presented a misleading and false testimony.”

The initial Saudi statements on the case were based on these false claims. The truth eventually began to unravel, he added.

On whether the Khashoggi case will have negative repercussions on Saudi arms deals, the minister replied: “The Kingdom is committed to defending its territory, borders and people against any regional threats.”

“We prefer to be armed by our allies, but Saudi Arabia’s commitment to defend its land and people obligates it to obtain the weapons its needs from any source,” he stated.

Commenting on whether the case will affect Saudi ties with its global partners, Jubeir said: “These relations are strategic and important in confronting common challenges. The Kingdom’s partners appreciate its role and standing.”

“The Kingdom was the first side to take measures against suspects in the Khashoggi case and other countries soon followed. They took measures in a manner that does affect our joint political and economic interests,” he added.

Most Viewed

 
Interviews

UN Envoy to Sudan: Foreign Arms Fuel Military Illusions, Prolong War

The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 
The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 
TT
20
TT

UN Envoy to Sudan: Foreign Arms Fuel Military Illusions, Prolong War

The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 
The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra (UN Photo) 

The United Nations’ special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, has issued a stark warning about the continued flow of weapons into the war-torn country, saying it only “feeds military delusions” and delays peace.

In his first in-depth interview since assuming the role earlier this year, Lamamra told Asharq Al-Awsat that peace in Sudan cannot be imposed from outside but must be forged by Sudanese themselves through collective will and unity.

“Peace is not imposed, it is made,” he said. “And if Sudanese do not make it, it will not come to them from the outside.”

Lamamra, an Algerian diplomat and former foreign minister with decades of experience in African mediation, emphasized that no military solution is possible in Sudan’s conflict. Instead, he called for an urgent political settlement, warning that “each day of delay means more fragmentation, more bloodshed.”

Following meetings in Port Sudan with Sovereign Council leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and ongoing communications with the leadership of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Lamamra acknowledged that the path to peace remains long and difficult.

He condemned what he described as a dangerous “logic of dominance” driving the conflict—a belief that complete military victory is possible, regardless of the cost to Sudan’s social fabric. “Some actors still think peace can wait until one side wins,” he said. “But that’s a delusion. There is no military solution.”

Instead, he stressed: “Sudan needs a political solution based on compromise, not revenge.”

Since taking office, Lamamra has focused on coordinating rather than expanding international mediation efforts. He voiced concern about the “overcrowding of mediators,” which he said has allowed Sudanese factions to exploit international divisions.

To address this, Lamamra launched a consultative group that includes the African Union, the Arab League, and peace-sponsoring countries. The group has met in Cairo, Djibouti, and Mauritania and plans to convene again in Brussels under EU sponsorship.

“What we need is not more mediators, but consensus around a unified vision,” he said. “Multiple tracks have allowed some parties to bet on contradictory international positions, delaying serious efforts toward peace.”

He pointed to UN Security Council Resolution 2724, which tasked him with coordinating peace efforts, emphasizing that its implementation hinges on aligning international efforts behind a single, realistic peace strategy.

Asked whether Sudan’s war has faded from global attention, Lamamra acknowledged that media coverage may fluctuate but said the humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen.

“The suffering is daily and ongoing,” he said, highlighting the dire conditions in North Darfur and the rapidly deteriorating situation in Zamzam camp. “The tragedy breaks the heart.”

With over 13 million internally displaced and millions more seeking refuge abroad, Lamamra described Sudan as the site of the world’s largest humanitarian crisis today. “This is a country under siege by arms, division, and international silence,” he said.

He praised the special attention paid by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has longstanding ties to Sudan dating back to his leadership of the UN refugee agency.

Lamamra was especially vocal about the dangerous role of foreign military support. “Feeding the war with weapons is not support for resolution—it is participation in prolonging delusion and division,” he said.

He accused some regional and international actors of backing Sudanese factions in hopes of future influence. “They forget that war leaves nothing intact to control,” he noted. “It’s in no one’s interest to see Sudan collapse.”

The envoy reiterated the UN’s calls for a total halt to arms shipments and strict enforcement of Security Council resolutions aimed at cutting off military funding.

Despite international interference, Lamamra emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for ending the war lies with Sudanese themselves. “History will judge them first and foremost,” he underlined.

Lamamra said the Jeddah Declaration—an agreement brokered by Saudi Arabia to ensure humanitarian access and civilian protection—remains a viable starting point for peace efforts. He commended Riyadh’s efforts and urged regional actors to intensify pressure on warring factions.

He also pointed to the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad as a potential turning point. “Sudan is central to the Arab identity. This is not a crisis that allows for neutrality,” he said.

In a direct message to the Sudanese public, Lamamra expressed admiration for their resilience. “I visited Port Sudan recently and met with leaders and citizens. I was moved by their hospitality and strong will to take charge of their future,” he said.

He pledged the UN’s continued support, acknowledging the scale of the humanitarian challenge: “Children, women, and innocent civilians are being stripped of life’s basic necessities. This crisis demands a moral awakening—not just from governments, but from everyone who hears and sees.”

Lamamra concluded: “Peace is not a one-time event—it’s a long-term project. And if we don’t begin now, there may be nothing left to build on in a few months.”