According to reports, Trump has blocked legislation that would put sanctions on US arms sales to key Middle Eastern ally, Saudia Arabia. The move marks the third time Trump has used his ability to veto and follows an earlier veto of a Saudi Arabia related measure. In a statement, Trump said: “This resolution would weaken America’s global competitiveness and damage the important relationships we share with our allies and partners.”
In May, Trump’s administration invoked an emergency provision in order to push through 22 deals with Saudi Arabia.
The President argued that the move was necessary in order to defend against heightened tensions with Iran.
Although the US and Saudia Arabia are allies, the recent killing of Jamal Khashoggi drew fury from Congress.
Recently, tensions in the Middle East have come close to boiling over as Tehran and Washington have continually clashed.
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Trump has confirmed the deployment of troops in Saudia Arabia in order to defend US interests.
Following the announcement, Washington announced that the move was to defend against what they called “emergent credible threats”.
Tensions between the two originally escalated following Trump’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
The nuclear deal was signed by the major powers and Iran in order to limit the country’s uranium enrichment.
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Last month, Iran shot down a US surveillance drone which the Islamic Republic claimed had strayed into its territory.
Away from tensions with the US, Iran also seized a British-flagged oil tanker last week.
The Stena Impero oil tanker was captured by the Revolutionary Guard and caused Theresa May to call an emergency COBR meeting at the time.
The two countries still remain in deadlock although Tehran has recently offered to trade the Stena Impero back for their own, Grace 1 ship which is detained in Gibraltar.