FTA: "Despite nervousness in Riyadh over the potential restoration of the Iran nuclear deal and the fact that Joe Biden in 2019 referred to the Saudi kingdom as a "pariah", Saudi authorities are touting this week that Saudi Arabia is prepared for "excellent relations" with the new Biden administration. The kingdom's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, told Al Arabiya in a new interview, "I am optimistic. Saudi Arabia has built solid, historical relations where it worked with different administrations. We will continue to do that as well with President Biden." However, the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi still hangs heavy over de fact ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which many in the West have accused of personally ordering the grisly slaying which took place by state operatives at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul."