Trump's Conversation with Mohammed bin Salman about Iran and Saudi Arabia's Role in the Middle East

On Tuesday, April 20, the White House announced that U.S. President Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding Iran and related human rights issues. The White House statement noted that Trump had a constructive dialogue with Mohammed bin Salman. It added that they discussed Saudi Arabia's critical role in ensuring stability in the Middle East, the continuation of maximum pressure against Iran, and the importance of human rights issues. The White House did not provide further details about the phone call. This conversation took place on the same day that the U.S. State Department placed 16 Saudi citizens on the entry ban list to the United States due to their 'role' in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi Crown Prince. Additionally, Trump placed the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the State Department's list of 'Foreign Terrorist Organizations.' According to the U.S. President, the IRGC is the 'primary tool of the Iranian government in directing and executing an international terrorism campaign.' Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised Egypt's role in the region during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated that Pompeo emphasized the strength and importance of U.S.-Egypt relations. Secretary Pompeo commended President el-Sisi for Egypt's role in promoting security, regional stability, including the fight against terrorism and countering Iran's malign influence. U.S. officials accuse Iran of undermining stability in the region. Pompeo stated that the use of terrorism has become the cornerstone of Iran's foreign policy. Following Trump's decision to designate the IRGC as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization,' Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced on Monday, prior to the designation, that the 'Central Command of the United States' in West Asia, known as CENTCOM, and all its affiliated forces are considered a 'terrorist group.' Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran also announced on Tuesday that Iranian military forces would treat the U.S. Army as 'terrorists.'