A US intelligence report has found that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the murder of exiled journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Axar.az reports that the declassified report released by the Biden administration says the prince approved a plan to either "capture or kill" the US-based Saudi exile.

It is the first time America has publicly named the crown prince, who denies ordering the murder.

Khashoggi was killed while visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

He had been critical of the Saudi authorities.

Shortly after the report was released, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the "Khashoggi ban", a visa restriction policy against individuals who threaten dissidents.

In a statement, Mr Blinken said the restrictions has been imposed on 76 Saudi individuals.