(JNS) Officials in the Biden administration have announced a shift in U.S. Middle East foreign policy towards a more critical stance on Saudi Arabia while opening the door for direct diplomacy with Iran.
In a briefing with reporters at the White House, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that U.S. President Joe Biden would conduct diplomacy directly through Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz rather than his powerful son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“We’ve made clear from the beginning that we are going to recalibrate our relationship with Saudi Arabia,” said Psaki.
U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken indicated that the administration would be open to direct diplomacy with Iran in the future. However, he said that for the United States and Iran to resume direct diplomacy, Tehran would have to resume full compliance with the deal.
