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| US sells $30bn in F-15 jets to Saudi Arabia | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The United States has confirmed the sale of nearly $30bn (£19.5bn) of new fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. | The United States has confirmed the sale of nearly $30bn (£19.5bn) of new fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. |
| The US will send 84 Boeing F-15 jets to its key Middle Eastern ally, and upgrade 70 existing Saudi F-15s. | The US will send 84 Boeing F-15 jets to its key Middle Eastern ally, and upgrade 70 existing Saudi F-15s. |
| The agreement is part of a $60bn arms deal covering 10-15 years, approved by the US Congress last year. | The agreement is part of a $60bn arms deal covering 10-15 years, approved by the US Congress last year. |
| The military hardware deal comes at a time when Washington is working to counter the influence of the Saudis' bitter regional rival, Iran. | |
| In a statement on Thursday, the White House said the Saudi arms sale was a "key component to regional stability". | |
| As well as the F-15s, the larger $60bn package includes Apache attack helicopters, Black Hawk helicopters, and a range missiles, bombs and delivery systems. | |
| Analysts see the deal as part of Washington's Gulf strategy of trying to contain Iran. | |
| Iran said on Tuesday it might close the Strait of Hormuz if the country was hit by more sanctions. But the US warned it would not tolerate any disruption of the vital oil route. |