Following an Op-Ed published on 5 March 2015,[10] calling for President Barack Obama to "listen to (Israeli PM) Netanyahu" when it comes to the threat imposed by the Iranian nuclear deal,[10] many pro-Hezbollah Arab, Iranian and even Western media outlets criticized Al Arabiya English's editorial stance. Based on this Op-Ed, the London Independet' journalist Robert Fisk wrote on 6 March that the column, which was written by Al Arabiya English's Editor-in-Chief at the time, would not have been published unless it was blessed by the Saudi Monarchy.[11] By doing so, Fisk was echoing unconfirmed claims that Al Arabiya is owned by the Saudi government and as such unable to publish views that weren't aligned with those of Riyadh. .