US-Saudi partnership critical to confronting Iran, Pompeo says after Prince Faisal meeting

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with his Saudi Arabian counterpart, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, at the State Department in Washington. (AFP)

• US secretary of state says he was glad to meet with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on regional security issues

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Washington Wednesday.

#WATCH: #SaudiArabia's FM @FaisalbinFarhan
meets US Secretary of State @SecPompeo at the @StateDept in Washington on Wednesdayhttps://t.co/SVcA1N2UDi pic.twitter.com/NkgNkPAHrE

— Arab News (@arabnews) February 12, 2020

Following the meeting, Pompeo said on Twitter that it was "past time" that Iran lived up to its commitment to global regulations regarding money laundering and financing of terror, calling on Tehran to ratify both the Palermo Convention and Terrorist Financing Convention.

It is past time for #Iran to live up to its commitment to play by the global rules to combat money laundering and terror financing. Iran must ratify the #PalermoConvention and Terrorist Financing Convention now.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) February 12, 2020

Pompeo also praised American and Saudi relations, saying: "The US-Saudi partnership is critical as we confront Iran's destabilizing behavior. We also share an interest in de-escalation in Yemen. Glad to meet with Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on these regional security issues."

U.S.-#Saudi partnership is critical as we confront Iran's destabilizing behavior. We also share an interest in de-escalation in Yemen. Glad to meet with Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on these regional security issues. pic.twitter.com/4gDShU8mij

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) February 12, 2020