Saudi Arabia has not ruled out developing nuclear weapons, US assessment warns

The US Congress has been briefed on a classified intelligence assessment which suggests that Saudi Arabia has not ruled out the development of a nuclear weapons program, according to a report by The Washington Post. This assessment comes in the wake of an agreement between Washington and Riyadh, which could potentially enable Saudi Arabia to develop uranium enrichment capabilities as part of its civilian nuclear program.

The agreement has raised apprehensions among US lawmakers from both parties and Israeli officials, with concerns that Saudi Arabia might eventually exploit the technology to develop nuclear weapons. However, it seems unlikely that the Republican-controlled US legislature would obstruct the implementation of the agreement.

Democratic senators, primarily led by Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley, addressed the situation to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They warned that departing from established precedent could lead to a scenario where Saudi Arabia acquires the means to enrich uranium and potentially develop nuclear weapons. Markey dismissed the notion that Saudi Arabia would abandon its nuclear ambitions, stating that if Riyadh had decided to halt its pursuit of a nuclear weapon, it would relinquish domestic enrichment and reprocessing capabilities, as well as allow extensive inspections from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The senators also pointed to the ongoing conflict with Iran as a factor driving Saudi ambitions. They pointed out that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had previously threatened to develop nuclear weapons if Iran did so. Markey argued that Saudi Arabia's actions would exacerbate a nuclear arms race in the region, given Iran's determination to defend its nuclear program as the conflict continues.

The Democratic senators criticized Trump administration officials, alleging that they could benefit from the agreement. For instance, Kushner received a $2 billion investment from a Saudi sovereign wealth fund after leaving the White House, while Westinghouse Electric could potentially earn billions if the agreement proceeds, as the majority owner of Westinghouse is associated with Newmark, a real estate firm linked to the Commerce Secretary's family.