Saudi foreign minister: Reports of snub to U.S. are 'really off-base'

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

published 12 May 2015

When Saudi Arabia's government announced that King Salman would not attend meetings with President Obama this week, the move was seen as a snub against the White House over U.S. relations with Iran. Now, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir wants to clarify that isn't the case.

In a statement Monday, al-Jubeir said reports of the so-called snub were "really off-base." According to al-Jubeir, King Salman won't be in attendance because of a recent cease-fire deal in Yemen, which began on Tuesday. "We have no doubt whatsoever about America's commitment to the security of Saudi Arabia," al-Jubeir said.

Last week, the White House announced that King Salman would visit to "resume consultations on a wide range of regional and bilateral issues" in a one-on-one meeting with Obama before a May 14 summit of Persian Gulf leaders. But Saudi Arabia announced Sunday that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the interior minister, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, defense minister, will attend in King Salman's place.