Three American officials confirmed to CNN that the US intelligence report on the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi will not be issued before a conversation between President Joe Biden and King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
One of the three sources said that “the call between President Biden and King Salman is expected, on Thursday.”
The report, which will be issued by the Director of National Intelligence, was expected to be released today.
On Wednesday, Biden said he had not yet spoken to the king, but had read the intelligence report.
“I’m going to talk to him,” Biden added, and White House spokeswoman Jane Psaki said the call would happen “soon.”
The upcoming intelligence report is expected to provide more details about what the US intelligence community knows about the role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Khashoggi’s killing.
A White House official said the Biden administration did not want to release the report before giving the Saudis a “warning.”
The Biden administration had informed the Saudis before announcing an end to US support for the kingdom’s war against the Houthis in Yemen.
Source: “CNN”