The United States will continue to back Saudi Arabia even if Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday in a bizarre statement filled with exclamation marks.

We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi, Trump said in the statement . In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very important fight against Iran.

The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region, the president added.

The White Houses highly anticipated decision on whether the U.S. planned to hold MBS accountable comes more than a month after the death of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and critic of the crown prince.

The Washington Post reported last week that the CIA had determined MBS ordered Khashoggis assassination. The Saudi journalist is believed to have been killed soon after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and his body was then dismembered and disposed of.