Jamal Khashoggi walking into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Inset: Khashoggi and his fiancee Hatice Cengiz. Credit:AP The disappearance of the Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, has battered the image of Saudi Arabia and of its powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, a key player in many of the Trump administration's ambitions for the Middle East. Turkish officials say that Khashoggi was slain inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by Saudi agents on October 2 while he was trying to secure a document he needed to get married. Saudi leaders have denied harming Khashoggi, but have not provided a credible explanation of what happened to him. Saudi King Salman presents Donald Trump with The Collar of Abdulaziz al-Saud Medal at the Royal Court Palace last year. Credit:AP Trump threatened "severe punishment" if it was confirmed that Saudi Arabia killed Khashoggi. But after speaking with King Salman on Monday, he suggested that "rogue killers" could have been responsible and dispatched Pompeo to Riyadh to see the Saudi king.

In his strongest language to date over the mystery surrounding the missing journalist, Trump said in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday: "Here we go again with you're guilty until proven innocent." On Monday, a person with knowledge of Saudi Arabia's plans said the kingdom was planning to blame the killing on rogue elements who did not act on official orders — a scenario that could allow the monarchy to acknowledge Khashoggi's death while protecting its leaders from culpability. An endorsement of that conclusion by the Trump administration could help limit damage to Saudi Arabia's international reputation. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, centre, is greeted by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir after arriving in Riyadh for urgent talks on Tuesday. Credit:AP Brett McGurk, the US envoy to the coalition fighting the Islamic State, dismissed the idea that Pompeo's visit and the disbursement of funds were connected. The Saudis had committed the money in August, he said, and the United States had expected to receive it in the northern fall, or around now.

"The specific transfer of funds has been long in process and has nothing to do with other events or the secretary's visit," McGurk said. Loading But the official involved in Syria policy said the payment process had been unpredictable. The money was pledged in August but it was unclear when it would show up, if at all, until it suddenly landed in US accounts. Since he took office, Trump has been trying to limit the role of the United States in Syria, where a seven-year war has shattered the country, killed hundreds of thousands of people and left entire cities in ruins.

In August, his administration decided not to spent $US230 million that had already been earmarked for stabilisation programs in areas once controlled by IS in eastern Syria. The Saudi money, in addition to another $US50 million given by the United Arab Emirates, would allow American programs there to continue, but on other countries' tabs. An American soldier sits on his armoured vehicle on a road in Manbij, north Syria, earlier this year. Credit:AP The funds will be used by USAID and the US State Department for a variety of programs, including infrastructure repairs and provision of health, education and sanitation services. Complicating Trump's position, is his administration's stace on Iran.

White House officials are worried the apparent killing of Khashoggi, and Saudi Arabia's changing account of his fate, could derail a showdown with Iran and jeopardise plans to enlist Saudi help to avoid disrupting the oil market. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Officials said the dilemma comes at a fraught moment as the US is expected to reimpose harsh sanctions against Iran on November 5, with the intent of cutting off all Iranian oil exports. But to make the strategy work, the administration is counting on its relationship with the Saudis to keep global oil flowing without spiking prices, and to work together on a new policy to contain Iran in the Persian Gulf. If that carefully coordinated plan moves forward, the Saudis would likely see a significant increase in oil revenue at exactly the moment Congress is talking about penalising the kingdom over the Khashoggi case. It is one reason that Pompeo was sent, with a few hours' notice, to see Salman and the crown prince on Tuesday.