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The official said it was not clear whether the original plan was to assassinate Khashoggi or if something was wrong at the consulate and could have been killed at a police station. attempt of abduction. The official said that he was suspected of bringing Khashoggi to the consulate as a back-up plan because they could not persuade him to return to Saudi Arabia.
The official said there was no tangible evidence of the death or death of Khashoggi, a Washington Post editorialist.
The official would not go so far as to say that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the operation but said that although he might not be aware of the details of such a plan, he could not have achieved it without his approval.
US officials believe that it is possible that the Crown Prince wishes that Khashoggi be silenced, but miscalculated the overall impact of his disappearance.
The Washington Post first reported the details of the intercepted conversations.
The letter, written by the Republican and Democrat High Representative on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, triggers an investigation under a law allowing the president to impose sanctions on individuals or countries. alleged guilty of violating human rights. The White House must respond within 120 days by specifying the measures it proposes.
In an interview Wednesday evening, Trump told Fox News that "until now, it looks a bit like", the Saudis are behind Khashoggi's demise, but it's too early to say how the United States could react. Blocking new arms sales to Saudi Arabia "would hurt us," he said.
Trump said the economic success of the United States was partly due to "what we do with our defense systems" and added, "Frankly, I think it would be a very, very difficult pill to swallow for our country. ".
The investigation is continuing
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on Thursday that Turkey "can not remain silent" on the disappearance of Khashoggi.
"We are currently investigating the event in all its dimensions.The event was held in our country.We can not remain silent facing an event of this type as it is not a matter of A normal event, "said Erdogan during a return flight from Hungary. . He said the security and intelligence forces "have examined all dimensions of this issue" and have been particularly interested in the entry and exit points of the country.
Turkish officials said that a team of 15 people had left Saudi Arabia to travel to Istanbul on the day of Khashoggi's entry to the consulate and was present in the building at the same time as the journalist. The investigation focused on CCTV images that showed the men arriving at the consulate.
In a statement to CNN on Wednesday, a Saudi official said the kingdom "categorically denies" any "involvement in Jamal's disappearance."
"At this point, our priority is to support the survey, not respond to the ever-changing comments that are not directly related to these efforts." Jamal's welfare as a Saudi citizen is our greatest We focus on the investigation as a way to reveal the truth behind his disappearance.Our sympathies go out to the family during this difficult time, "said the official.
