Saudi Deny Deposed Saudi Crown Prince Barred From Leaving Kingdom, “Confined To Palace”

In the aftermath of the recent surprising Saudi succession, overnight the NYT reported that the recently deposed Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, has been barred from leaving the kingdom and confined to his palace in the coastal city of Jidda, citing to four current and former American officials and Saudis close to the royal family.

The paper adds that the new restrictions on the man who until last week was next in line to the throne and ran the kingdom’s powerful internal security services sought to limit any potential opposition for the new crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, 31, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity so as not to jeopardize relationships with Saudi royals. It was unclear how long the restrictions would remain in place.

However, this morning, a senior Saudi official on Thursday denied as “baseless” the NYT report, and a Saudi official told Reuters that bin Nayef, a veteran interior minister, was continuing to host guests and there were no restrictions at all on his or his family’s movements.

The senior Saudi official expressed shock at the report, which he described as a “fabricated story” and suggested that Mohammed bin Nayef may seek legal action against the newspaper.

“What was published by the New York Times is untrue, completely false, and baseless,” the official told Reuters, responding to a question on the New York Times report.

“His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and his family is moving freely and hosting his guests unrestrictedly. Nothing has changed for Prince Mohammed, except for stepping down from his government positions,” the official said.

The Saudi official said Mohammed bin Nayef was “entitled to bring legal action against the newspaper and anyone who defames his reputation by publishing such false news about him”.

As a reminder, Mohammed bin Nayef, who was admired in Washington for quashing an al Qaeda insurgency in the kingdom between 2003 and 2006, was relieved of all his duties a week ago. In his place as Crown Prince, King Salman appointed his son Mohammed bin Salman who also serves as defense minister and leads an ambitious reform agenda to end Saudi Arabia’s over-reliance on oil.

Mohammed bin Salman’s promotion ended two years of speculation about a behind-the-scenes rivalry near the pinnacle of royal power, but analysts said he still has to win over powerful relatives, clerics and tribesmen.

To be sure, so far the promotion has proceeded unexpectedly smoothly, with royal family members, senior officials and clerics participating in a traditional ceremony held in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in which they pledged allegiance to the new crown prince. Saudi state media, eager to show the change was going smoothly, repeatedly broadcast footage of the young Mohammed bin Salman kissing the hand of Mohammed bin Nayef, as his older cousin offered him congratulations.