King Abdullah II left Amman on Thursday for his visit to Washington, where he will meet with a number of senior US administration officials, Petra News Agency reported.

The King will also meet leaders and committee members of the US Senate and House of Representatives.

The visit comes at a critical time for relations between the US and its Middle East partners.

The US administration has reportedly had a role in pressuring Saudi Arabia over Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s return to Beirut as well as encouraging the Saudi-led coalition to ease the blockade of Yemen.

On Wednesday, the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas refused to take a call from senior White House officials after the US closed the Palestine Liberation Organisation offices in Washington.