Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman to step down and announce his 32-year-old son, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman as his successor next week, as per the sources.
The 81-year-old king will remain as a ceremonial figurehead, while the official leadership would be handed over to Prince Mohammad, according to the royal sources of Daily Mail.
“Unless something dramatic happens, King Salman will announce the appointment of MBS as King of Saudi Arabia next week,” the sources said. “King Salman will play the role of the queen of England. He will only keep the title ‘Custodian of the Holy Shrines’.”
Once crowned, Prince Mohammad will focus on Iran, the long oil rival, sources said. “MBS is convinced that he has to hit Iran and Hezbollah,” he said.
If the reports to be believed, the move is a result of the arrest of 40 Saudi princes and officials over corruption allegations.
King Salman to step down by next week, says report
