JEDDAH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also deputy prime minister and defense minister, has received a telephone call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday night, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said early Sunday. “During the telephone conversation, they discussed developments in the region and efforts to enhance security and stability in the region,” the report said. A day before, some members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Saudi Arabia, gave their approval to a request by the US to deploy military forces in the waters of the Arabian Gulf, according to a report by Al-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper, quoting unnamed Arab diplomatic sources. The main objective of the move is to allow Washington and Gulf nations to work together to deter any aggression or military threat from Iran against its neighbors or US interests in the region, the sources said.  Tensions have escalated following attacks this week on a Saudi oil pipeline and a number of cargo ships in the Arabian Gulf off the coast of Fujairah in the UAE.