KSA: King Salman Promotes 31-year Old Son Heir to the Throne

King Salman Wednesday in a series of appointments positioned his 31-year old son, defense minister and Deputy Crown Prince as his direct heir.

A royal decree published by the Saudi Press Agency announced the changes in the royal establishment, saying that Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been approved by 31 out of 34 members of the Saudi Allegiance Council as heir to the throne.

Mohammed bin Salman has also been named deputy Prime Minister but still conserves his role as defense minister.

The new Crown Prince has taken over from his uncle Prince Mohammed bin Nayef who has been stripped off his title of Crown Prince and powerful position of Interior minister.

The young Prince has been rumored to ascend to the kingdom’s top role after his father entrusted him with major roles such as Head of the defense and overseer of the kingdom’s economy.

Mohamed bin Salman spearheads the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in the Yemen war, which has been going on for more than two year now. The young Saudi Crown Prince also soared to the international front linking up the country with the rest of the world, including the United States that he visited many times.

He appeared to be the key player in President Trump’s May visit to the kingdom, which warmed up relations between the two countries after Riyadh fell out of favor under President Obama.

Former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef is reported to have lost the favor of his half-brother King Salman, for his role in the crisis with Qatar.

The new reshuffle occurs as tension with rival Iran boils again.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has expressed his animosity towards the Islamic Republic and has vowed to engage in a war with Teheran which he accused of “aiming to control the Islamic world”.