Jeddah, Washington- Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has received a telephone call from British Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

During the call, they reviewed close historical relations between the two friendly countries and means of boosting them.

They also discussed a number of topics related to the prospects of security, cooperation and coordination between them.

The Prince congratulated her on assuming the post of Home Secretary in the United Kingdom, wishing her success and stressing his keenness for closer ties between the two Kingdoms.

On the other hand, the U.S. government approved a deal to sell Saudi Arabia 153 tanks, several hundred machine guns and other weapons for a total amount of $1.15 billion.

According to the Pentagon, the deal includes the sale of 133 “Abrams” tanks, 266 М240 machine guns, smoke grenade launchers and armored recovery vehicles.

On Monday, the U.S. State Department approved the possible sale of arms to Riyadh and notified Congress.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which implements foreign arms sales, said General Dynamics will be the principal contractor for the sale.

“This sale will increase the Royal Saudi Land Force’s (RSLF) interoperability with U.S. forces and conveys U.S. commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security and armed forces modernization,” the agency said in a notice to lawmakers posted on its website.

As noted by the agency, “the proposed transaction will contribute to strengthen the security of a strategic regional partner which continues to be the leading guarantor of political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”

Lawmakers have 30 days to block the sale, although such action is rare.