Mohammed bin Salman said that if Iran develops nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia will follow suit. Photo: Royal Court of Saudi Arabia/Reuters
The risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East is «acute», a former British ambassador to Riyadh has warned, amid reports the US could help Saudi Arabia develop a civilian nuclear program in exchange for normalization of relations with Israel.
The Joe Biden administration is actively working on a package of agreements under which Riyadh would formally recognize Israel's statehood, becoming the largest Arab power to do so since the founding of the Jewish state in 1948.
Riyadh has assisted the US in its civilian efforts the nuclear program is a key requirement of the negotiations.
Under the terms of the deal, the Wall Street Journal reported last week, U.S. and Israeli officials are discussing a potential U.S.-run uranium enrichment center in Saudi Arabia. .
This would make Saudi Arabia the second Middle Eastern country to enrich uranium after Iran, which said in July 2022 that it had reached nuclear threshold status.
In an interview with Fox News last month, Saudi Arabia's de facto leader Mohammed bin Salman said that if Iran develops nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia will follow suit: “If they get them, we should get them.”
Sir John Jenkins, British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia since 2012. to 2015, told The Telegraph that Mr Bin Salman's comments to Fox showed he had ambitions to build a bomb and that the risk of regional nuclear proliferation had become «acute».
The Joe Biden administration is actively working on a package of agreements under which Saudi Arabia would formally recognize Israel's statehood. Photo: KEN CEDENO/Reuters
If Riyadh had received the bomb, Sir John said, “the Egyptians would have done the same thing. I'm absolutely sure. What about Turkey? The consequences of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East are enormous.»
And given the tensions between Riyadh and Tehran, «it is very difficult to predict what Iran's reaction will be.»
«The Saudis say «If you want normalization, that's the price,» John said, sir. “And the price is extremely high. So how long do you want it?
Saudi Arabia last week agreed to tougher inspections by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, in a possible sign that the kingdom is moving ahead with its ambitions. .
«This shows that the situation is moving and moving quickly,» said Yoel Guzansky, a former member of Israel's National Security Council. «I'm sure that was an American condition [of any deal to stimulate Saudi Arabia's nuclear industry].»
Defenders of the proposals say Washington will maintain oversight of nuclear Aramco, with strict checks to prevent its use for military purposes. But Mr. Guvaski said, «We learned in Iran that these things don't work,» adding that political unpredictability made it impossible to ensure long-term U.S. control of the Saudi nuclear program.
Several Israeli politicians and military leaders expressed concerns that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jeopardizing regional stability by pursuing his own political interests.
A former director of Israeli military intelligence told The Telegraph that negotiators should «think twice about the consequences» of providing nuclear support to Saudi Arabia.
Israeli politicians and military leaders have expressed fears that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is jeopardizing regional stability. Photo: Reuters
One source familiar with the talks said Washington may be compromising on long-standing positions aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. to secure a «win» on foreign policy.
Supporters of Biden's deal say US nuclear assistance to Riyadh would bolster its status as an ally while Russia and China lurk in the background.
< p>Riyadh and Beijing have long been discussing the prospects for nuclear cooperation.
In August, Saudi Arabian officials told reporters they were considering a new Chinese bid to build a nuclear power plant in the kingdom's eastern province.
Americans are «being blackmailed by Mohammed bin Salman,» said Emmanuel Navon, the Israeli CEO of the European Leadership Network. “The Biden administration is willing to pay any price to move China away from the Persian Gulf.”
Similarly, Mr. Navon said Mr. Netanyahu’s nine “catastrophic” months in office, during which he faced mass protests His weakening of the independence of the Israeli judiciary means that he, too, is “ready to pay any price for signing the agreement.” He is desperate for some kind of achievement.»
The Netanyahu administration declined to comment.
Although analysts agree that a normalization agreement is increasingly likely, it could be months or years. . The Palestinian issue remains a sticking point, as do Saudi Arabia's demands for the US to make far-reaching security commitments.
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