Saudi nuclear weapons option not off the table
The assessment comes after Washington and Riyadh confirmed in July that they had reached an agreement that could potentially allow Saudi Arabia to develop uranium enrichment capabilities as part of its civilian nuclear programme.
The US Congress has reportedly received a classified intelligence assessment warning that Saudi Arabia has not ruled out developing a nuclear weapons programme, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Merkley called the situation “bogus as hell”, arguing that Saudi Arabia’s demands indicated that its nuclear programme could extend beyond civilian purposes. They’d accept massive inspections from the IAEA,” he said. “If they’ve given up the intent to develop a nuclear weapon, then they’d give up domestic enrichment and reprocessing power, right?
A group of Democratic senators, led by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, warning that the departure from established precedent could set in motion a process “that is all but certain to allow Riyadh to acquire the means to enrich uranium and possibly develop nuclear weapons.
Concerns Over Nuclear Arms Race in the Middle East
Senator Ed Markey expressed concerns regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran, stating that the Iranians are likely to vigorously protect their nuclear weapons program. He warned that any military actions taken in Saudi Arabia could exacerbate tensions and potentially trigger a nuclear arms race in the region.
Additionally, a letter from Democratic senators criticized former Trump administration officials, highlighting potential conflicts of interest. The letter pointed out that Jared Kushner received a $2 billion investment from a Saudi sovereign wealth fund after his tenure in the White House, raising questions about the motivations behind the agreements made during that administration.