Government officials ruled out a visit by Prime Minister Tammam Salam to Saudi Arabia anytime soon after King Salman announced a major shake-up in the line of succession and cabinet.

The officials told al-Liwaa daily published on Thursday that Salam would not be able to visit Riyadh as expected because Saudi officials are busy with announcing their allegiance to their new leaders.

The United States Wednesday said it would continue its "close, productive relationship" with Saudi Arabia amid a radical shake-up of King Salman's inner circle.

Acting State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf also paid tribute to outgoing Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, who is stepping down after holding the post for four decades.

From the 9/11 attacks to this year's air strikes in Yemen, Saudi Arabia's new top diplomat is a longtime Washington insider known as a well-spoken advocate for the kingdom's foreign policy.

A frequent face on U.S. television, Adel al-Jubeir, 53, was named on Wednesday to replace the aging Prince Saud al-Faisal, who held the post since 1975 and was the world's longest-serving foreign minister.

The promotion of second generation members of the Saudi royal family to put them in line to the throne reflects a bid to rejuvenate the kingdom's leadership, analysts said Wednesday.

Three months after taking power, King Salman named his nephew Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, as the crown prince in place of his own half-brother Prince Moqren bin Abdul Aziz bin Saud, 69.

The world's longest-serving foreign minister, Saudi Arabia's Prince Saud al-Faisal steered the oil giant's diplomacy for four decades before stepping down.

The aged minister, born in 1940, asked to be relieved of his duties due to health problems, and was replaced Wednesday by envoy to Washington Adel al-Jubeir as part of a major shake-up in the Saudi royal family and cabinet.

Saudi King Salman's youthful son Prince Mohammed, appointed Wednesday as second in line to the throne, wields enormous power and is leading a war against rebels in neighboring Yemen.

Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in his 30s, was named deputy crown prince thanks to his "massive capabilities which became evident to everyone through all the missions he had been assigned with," said a statement by his father, King Salman, 79.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea called on Lebanese businessmen to safeguard the interests of the expats abroad, expressing concern over the campaign targeting Saudi Arabia and its repercussions.

Geagea stressed after a meeting with a delegation from the Lebanese Business and Investment Council in Saudi Arabia that endeavors are ongoing to reduce any harm targeting Lebanese businessmen in any foreign country.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman announced a new heir and made his son second in line to rule Wednesday, concentrating power in his inner circle as the kingdom faces enormous regional challenges.

The major shake-up in the line of succession and cabinet comes with oil giant Saudi Arabia increasingly assertive in the fight against Islamic extremists and in its rivalry with fellow regional power Iran.

Saudi Arabia has arrested nearly 100 jihadists, mostly linked to the Islamic State group, and foiled several plots to carry out attacks including on the American embassy, authorities said Tuesday.

The arrests have taken place since December and most of those detained were Saudis, the interior ministry said in a statement published by the official news agency SPA.

A top Iranian security official on Tuesday accused Saudi Arabia of using "cold war era" scare tactics in Yemen, after an air drop of leaflets that criticize "Persian expansion."

The reference, to Iran's language and ancient name, was contained on white paper fliers released from Saudi aircraft in recent weeks.