The arms race with Iran: Who will become a partner in the Saudi Arabia nuclear program - experts

At the end of September, Prince of Saudi Arabia Muhammad Bin Salman stated in an interview that if Iran receives nuclear weapons, then "we will have to get it. " Breaking Defense Viewers in the region were told about the threat of nuclear escalation in the region. Western experts believe that the prince's statements were heard against the backdrop of the US and Israel's desire to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia.

As a conditional rapprochement, Riyadh can invite help in creating a full cycle nuclear program. Thus, a researcher from the Middle East of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Hasan Al Hasan, said that the Saudites have no active civilian nuclear program, "with the exception of a single research reactor.

" However, for Saudi Arabia, the creation of an advanced nuclear program is a strategic goal to strengthen its status of the Arab and Muslim state and to achieve a balance of forces with Iran. And for this purpose the country has the necessary resource, since the kingdom has part of the world's reserves of uranium, and therefore has the right to have the potential for its enrichment.

Meanwhile, supporters of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons are afraid of whether Riyadh will be satisfied with a civil nuclear program, or whether it will go in this aspect. Some analysts have no doubt that in the presence of a civilian nuclear program, the kingdom will think about the creation of nuclear weapons.

"In addition to meeting the energy needs of Saudi Arabia, a civilian nuclear program can be the basis for creating nuclear weapons potential if the Saudi decides to apply it in the future," Al Hasan emphasized. The whole situation, the expert believes, is heated by the presence of a nuclear program in neighboring Iran, so Muhammad Bin Salman's words should be taken very seriously.

Of course, saudites need partners in the implementation of such ambitious plans, and above all, these are the United States. "They want to enlist Uranium enrichment with the possibility of nuclear weapons, if necessary in the future," says Kennet Katman, Senior Soufan Group Advisor. However, there are several obstacles along this path.

First, Israel is likely to be against Washington's support, and secondly, such white home steps are impossible without approving the US Congress, which, according to experts, is almost impossible. Therefore, Russia and China can act as partners.

"If Biden administration is unable to reach a nuclear restriction and security agreement, Saudi Arabia is likely to turn to other partners, in particular, China and Russia, for helping to create the potential needed to restore the balance of forces from Iran, " - says Al Hasan. The fact is that according to the available data, this year the Chinese National Nuclear Corporation has applied for the construction of nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia.

Some observers regarded this as a signal of the Kingdom of the West that he has other options for access to nuclear technologies. Finally, the expert added that such a scenario is quite possible, since Beijing has already helped Saudites to develop a program for creating ballistic missiles - a probable means of delivering nuclear warheads in the future. Recall that at the beginning of 2023, the United States stopped plans to buy Scopa's Saudi Company from RTX.