**Saudi Arabia Considers Nuclear Weapons Development Amid US Cooperation Concerns**
A recent classified US intelligence assessment has revealed that Saudi Arabia has not ruled out the possibility of developing nuclear weapons. This information, reported by the Washington Post, has raised alarms among lawmakers in Congress regarding the nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia, signed in July 2023.
The intelligence assessment was included in classified documents provided to Congress as part of the ongoing review of the landmark Section 123 agreement. This agreement lays the legal groundwork for American companies to engage in significant civilian nuclear projects in Saudi Arabia, potentially worth tens of billions of dollars. US officials indicated that while the State Department provided a separate assessment expressing confidence in Saudi assurances and the safeguards embedded in the deal, the intelligence report has sparked heightened scrutiny.
Proponents of the agreement, including the Trump administration, argue that it will bolster nonproliferation standards and discourage Saudi Arabia from seeking nuclear cooperation with other countries, such as Russia or China. However, critics are concerned that the agreement could inadvertently pave the way for Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically. Although initial enrichment levels are capped at below 5%, there is a provision allowing for an increase to as much as 20% with further studies and mutual approval from Washington and Riyadh. While uranium enriched to this level is not weapons-grade, it significantly reduces the effort required to achieve weapons-grade concentrations.
Moreover, the agreement does not mandate Saudi Arabia to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Additional Protocol, which would grant inspectors broader access and enhanced tools for detecting any undeclared nuclear activities. Instead, a separate bilateral safeguards arrangement has been negotiated between the two nations.
Concerns over the potential implications of this agreement have been voiced by a group of Democratic senators, led by Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley. They have warned Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the deal could ultimately provide Saudi Arabia with the means to enrich uranium and potentially develop nuclear weapons. Senator Merkley expressed skepticism regarding Saudi Arabia's insistence on retaining the option for domestic enrichment, questioning whether the kingdom's ambitions are entirely peaceful.
In response to these concerns, the State Department has firmly rejected any suggestions that the US is facilitating a military nuclear program for Saudi Arabia. Officials emphasized that the US "does not and will not support a Saudi nuclear weapon program." Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman has also assured that the kingdom's nuclear program will be developed with "the highest levels of responsibility and transparency," emphasizing its peaceful intentions.
The intelligence assessment has reignited fears stemming from a statement made by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2018, where he indicated that Riyadh would pursue an atomic bomb if Iran were to develop one. "Without a doubt, if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we would follow suit as soon as possible," he stated at that time.
Lawmakers have drawn comparisons between the Saudi agreement and the much stricter 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which limited Tehran's uranium enrichment to 3.67% for 15 years. The Trump administration withdrew the US from the Iran deal during its first term, citing its inadequacy in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement was formally submitted to Congress on August 24, 2023, and is currently undergoing a 90-day review period. While lawmakers have the option to block the agreement, overriding a presidential veto would require a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
As the review process continues, the implications of the Saudi nuclear agreement remain a contentious topic within US political circles, raising questions about regional stability and the future of nuclear nonproliferation efforts in the Middle East.