US intelligence says Saudi Arabia has not ruled out nuclear weapons programme

Saudi Arabia has not ruled out developing a nuclear weapons programme, according to a US intelligence assessment contained in classified documents provided to Congress, US officials told The Washington Post.

WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia has not ruled out developing a nuclear weapons programme, according to a US intelligence assessment contained in classified documents provided to Congress, US officials told The Washington Post.

The assessment comes as Congress reviews a US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement that would allow American companies to pursue nuclear energy projects in Saudi Arabia. The agreement, signed in July, provides a framework for long-term US-Saudi nuclear cooperation and has been described by the US administration as supporting nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation.

The agreement has drawn criticism from some Democratic lawmakers, who say it could give Saudi Arabia a pathway to uranium enrichment. A group of Democratic senators, led by Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, said in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the agreement could allow Riyadh to acquire enrichment capabilities and potentially develop nuclear weapons.

The State Department said the United States “does not and will not support a Saudi nuclear weapon program” and defended the agreement as a way to expand nuclear energy cooperation while maintaining nonproliferation standards.

Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman has said the programme will be “peaceful” and developed with “the highest levels of responsibility and transparency,” according to an earlier statement relayed to The Post.

The agreement initially limits Saudi uranium enrichment to less than 5 percent. According to The Post, the limit could later rise to 20 percent after an additional study and written agreement. The agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which provides for broader access for inspections and verification.

The arrangement was signed in July by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman. The US Energy Department said the agreement provides the legal foundation for a long-term civil nuclear partnership and will allow greater access for US companies to Saudi Arabia’s nuclear energy programme.

Some nuclear nonproliferation experts have also raised concerns about the agreement. A group of 20 experts, including former International Atomic Energy Agency director general Hans Blix, wrote to Congress that the deal should not allow Saudi Arabia to acquire capabilities to produce fissile material without stronger safeguards, according to The Post.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in 2018 that Saudi Arabia would develop a nuclear weapon if Iran obtained one. “Without a doubt, if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we would follow suit as soon as possible,” he said at the time.

The intelligence assessment has added to concerns among some lawmakers over whether the agreement provides sufficient safeguards against nuclear weapons proliferation.

Democratic lawmakers have also questioned the potential financial beneficiaries of the agreement. In their letter to Rubio, they cited Saudi investment in a fund associated with Jared Kushner and potential business opportunities for Westinghouse Electric. Representatives for Kushner, Westinghouse, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Newmark did not respond to The Post’s requests for comment, according to the newspaper.