RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on Monday the kingdom does not want to see further escalation of tensions in the region at a “very dangerous moment,” following Friday’s killing by a US drone of Iran’s most prominent military commander.

“We are very keen that the situation in the region doesn’t escalate any further. It’s certainly a very dangerous moment and we have to be conscious of the risks and dangers not just to the region but to wider global security,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud told a news briefing in Riyadh.

“We hope that all actors take all the steps necessary to prevent any further escalation and any provocation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on Monday with Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah by phone. 

Pompeo discussed US President Donald Trump’s “recent decision to take defensive action in response to imminent threats to American lives” and “emphasized that the United States is committed to de-escalation.”

He also thanked Minister Al-Sabah for Kuwait’s continued partnership with the US.

Also on Monday, Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa discussed with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper the importance of maintaining regional security and stability, state news agency BNA reported.

Reuters