RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: The US President Barack Obama and the newly appointed Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud met in Riyadh and discussed a range of issues including the campaign against Islamic State (IS), the US officials said.
The meeting took place after the US president accompanied by prominent Republican officials including former Secretaries of State James Baker and Condoleezza Rice reached the Saudi capital on Tuesday to pay their respects following the death of King Abdullah.
The Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz passed away in Riyadh at the age of 90 on January 23 after suffering from lung infection while Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud was officially appointed as the new Saudi king and Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz the new crown prince.
The US officials said that during the meeting between Obama and King Salman, issues related to Iran’s nuclear program and human rights in Saudi Arabia also came under discussion.
Saudi Arabia has been part of the US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against IS militants since last year. However, relations between the two countries have been strained by differences over US policy on the Syrian conflict and its possible nuclear deal with Shiite-dominated Iran.
