9/11 bill adds to strains on US-Saudi relations

Relations between Riyadh and Washington have come under additional strain, after the US Senate passed legislation that would allow survivors and relatives of those killed in the 11 September 2001 (9/11) attacks to file lawsuits seeking damages against the Saudi government.The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (Jasta) will now go to the House of Representatives, although President Barack Obama is ultimately expected to veto the measure. On 15 April, The New York Times reported that foreign minister Adel Al-Jubair had threatened to sell $750bn-worth of US assets owned by Saudi Arabia if Congress passed the act.