Saudi Nuclear Ambitions Spark Regional Unease, U.S. Demands Stricter Guarantees

Saudi Arabia's pursuit of nuclear capabilities, potentially extending to a bomb, has ignited regional tensions and drawn scrutiny from the United States. While the kingdom is a signatory to the international non-proliferation treaty, Washington seeks more stringent guarantees, particularly concerning uranium enrichment, a key step in developing nuclear weapons.

The potential deal, which could involve the U.S. Congress, does not explicitly prohibit Riyadh from enriching uranium, a possibility the Saudis themselves have raised. This ambiguity fuels concerns among regional powers, notably Israel, which is widely considered a nuclear state, and Iran, whose own nuclear program is a major point of contention.

Reuters questions the necessity of nuclear energy for Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter. The kingdom's economic plan for 2030 includes reducing carbon emissions, which could be a driver for nuclear power. However, Riyadh has also signaled that it would pursue nuclear weapons if its "old enemy," Iran, develops them.

This situation complicates U.S. foreign policy. While the Biden administration initially hoped Saudi Arabia would normalize relations with Israel, similar to other Arab nations, Riyadh has conditioned such a move on the establishment of a Palestinian state. The U.S. also fears that other global powers, such as China, South Korea, France, or Russia, could secure lucrative nuclear deals if Washington hesitates. A potential compromise involves allowing Saudi uranium enrichment under U.S. supervision.

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From this moment on, every time the Islamic Republic of Iran opens fire on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz – whether with a missile, drone, or other means and weapons – the United States will drop a bomb and destroy a bridge or power plant, either near or in the capital, Tehran.