Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman laid out a vigorous defense of his domestic policies and the thinking behind his push to transform Saudi Arabia economically and socially during a wide-ranging interview broadcast across Saudi television channels late Tuesday.
In the lengthy interview that stretched past midnight, the crown prince also expressed hopes for good relations with rival Iran and said that Saudi Arabia and the Biden administration in Washington were in agreement on most issues of mutual concern.
The bulk of the interview, though, was spent laying out a dizzying array of economic figures and milestones to explain why the government has raised taxes, cut subsidies and embarked on unpopular austerity measures to hit targets in the so-called Vision 2030 plan.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
On relations with Washington, the prince said Saudi Arabia and the Biden administration agree on 90% of issues of mutual concern, but are in disagreement on the rest, though he did not elaborate.
He said the world is "a wide place" with many nations to build strategic ties with.
"We do not accept any external pressure or interference in our internal affairs," Prince Mohammed said.
The interview aired on the same day that an explosives-laden boat targeted the Saudi port of Yanbu. Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, have claimed responsibility for past attacks on Saudi oil targets.
"We want good relations with Iran," the prince said of the kingdom's top rival. Problems with Iran stem from its "negative actions," such as its nuclear program, interference in regional conflicts and ballistic missile program, he said.
The crown prince's comments on Iran were more measured than in previous years when Donald Trump was in office. Iran is currently negotiating with world powers on how it and Washington can return to the 2015 nuclear deal that the Trump administration pulled the US from.
Although the prince's international reputation remains damaged by the 2018 killing of Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, he is popular among many Saudis for his bold social reforms.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
