Defence deal with Saudi to counter 'malign Iranian influence', says US Secretary of State

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that arms agreements worth USD 110 billion signed with Saudi Arabia aim to help the kingdom deal with "malign Iranian influence".

"The package of defence equipment and services supports the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the entire Gulf region," Tillerson told reporters in Riyadh, where President Donald Trump arrived for his first visit abroad since taking office.

This is "in particular in the face of malign Iranian influence and Iranian-related threats which exist on Saudi Arabia's borders on all sides," Tillerson told reporters in Riyadh.