Strategic Assessment

In response to the development of the Iranian nuclear program and considerations of prestige and energy needs, Saudi Arabia began examining the nuclear route, with the intention of leaving as many options as possible open to it in the nuclear realm. The Saudi kingdom has already declared its intention to develop a nuclear program for the purposes of electricity production and water desalination, and is in the midst of feverish preparations to achieve this goal. In this context, it has been conducting negotiations with the United States for assistance in the realm of civilian nuclear development, while working to puncture the taboo on uranium enrichment. Along with these developments, senior Saudi officials have threatened publicly and explicitly that if Iran acquires nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia will immediately follow suit.