Washington, July 25 (TIWN) US President Donald Trump has vetoed three congressional resolutions seeking to block the White House from selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and other countries without the legislative branch's prior approval.

Earlier this month, bipartisan majorities - but not a veto-proof majority - in the House and Senate voted to block the arms deals, worth more than $8 billion.  The sales would replenish part of the Saudi arsenal that lawmakers say has been used against civilians in Yemen's civil war. Many lawmakers also object to the idea of rewarding Saudi leaders after the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.  The president announced in May that he would use emergency authority to push through the weapons sales that include missiles, munitions and surveillance aircraft.  "The misguided licensing prohibitions in the joint resolution directly conflict with the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States," Trump said in all three White House statements declaring his vetos.