Saudi Crown Prince's secret meeting with the CIA director: Details leaked

CIA Director William Burns met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as a part of a regional tour, according to the Intercept.

The meeting took place at a time when senior US officials were making recent efforts to urge Saudi Arabia to increase oil production and stop Riyadh from buying Chinese weapons, Intercept quoted three sources familiar with the matter as saying.

According to the report, the CIA director also stressed the need for the release of the royal family detainees by Saudi officials.

However, Saudi Arabia last week reiterated its commitment to its oil production program and rejected any US request to increase production.

The "Intercept" said the CIA director also requested that Saudi Arabia not pursue a purchase of arms from China, quoting the two sources close to U.S. intelligence.

The report said Burns also requested the release of numerous high-profile Saudi royals whom MBS has detained, including MBS’s cousin, former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who have been detained by Bin Salman since 2017.