Saudi Arabiawas not consulted by Washington over a US drone strike that killed a topIranian general, an official said Sunday, as the Kingdom sought to defusesoaring regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia isvulnerable to possible Iranian reprisals after Tehran vowed "revenge" followingthe strike on Friday that killed powerful Revolutionary Guards commander QasemSoleimani in Baghdad.
"The kingdom ofSaudi Arabia was not consulted regarding the US strike," a Saudiofficial told AFP, requesting anonymity.
"In light ofthe rapid developments, the Kingdom stresses the importance of exercisingrestraint to guard against all acts that may lead to escalation, with severeconsequences," the official added.
Saudi Arabia'sforeign ministry echoed a similar call for restraint at the weekend and KingSalman emphasized the need for measures to calm tensions in a phone call onSaturday with Iraqi President Barham Saleh.
In a separatephone call with Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, Saudi Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman stressed "the need to make efforts to calm the situationand de-escalate tensions", the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
The CrownPrince has instructed Prince Khalid bin Salman, his younger brother and vicedefense minister, to travel to Washington and London in the next few days tourge restraint, the pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported.
