"These penalties will not be the last word on this matter," Pompeo told reporters at the State Department. The administration "will continue to hold those responsible accountable. We're making very clear that the United States does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, with violence," he said. "Neither the president or I am happy with this situation."

Members of Congress have demanded that sanctions be imposed on Saudi Arabia over the killing of Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post contributor who disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2. Turkish authorities say Khashoggi was the victim of a pre-planned assassination operation while Saudi officials have conceded that he died but that his killing occurred accidentally while they were trying to convince him to return home.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Credit:AP

Trump has resisted calls thus far to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and Pompeo stressed the strategic importance of the US-Saudi relationship.

"We continue to view as achievable the twin imperative of protecting America and holding accountable those responsible for the killing of Mr Khashoggi," Pompeo said. "We want to make sure that everyone understands that the United States doesn't believe that this killing of Jamal Khashoggi was anything other than a horrific act and we hope that we can work together both with Congress and our allies to hold those responsible accountable."