by MEMRI
In an
article titled "Saudi Arabia's Nuclear Bomb," published November 16,
2013 in the London-based Saudi daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, 'Abd Al-Rahman
Al-Rashed, the daily's former editor and the current director of Al-Arabiya,
addressed the topic of Saudi Arabia's possible nuclear armament. He denied
rumors that the kingdom has a nuclear program or has ever intended to acquire
atomic weapons, stressing that it is a signatory to the NPT. However, he states
that if Iran manages to acquire a nuclear weapon, the kingdom will have no
choice but to protect itself, either by acquiring nuclear weapons of its own or
"via agreements that will maintain the regional balance of power and
protect Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states." This, since Iran's weapon will
not be meant for defensive purposes, and Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly "one
of the potential targets on Iran’s nuclear hit list."
At
the same time, he stresses that he is against sparking a nuclear arms race in
the region, and that the ideal solution, therefore, is to prevent Iran from
developing such weapons. He criticizes the policy of U.S. President Barak Obama
vis-à-vis Iran, saying that its willingness to negotiate with Iran gives the
latter confidence that it will manage to convince the world to accept it as a
nuclear power.
The
following is an English translation of the article, published on the Al-Arabiya
website.[1]
'Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed
"If Iran Builds
Nuclear Weapons, Saudi Arabia Will Have To Protect Itself, Either With A
Nuclear Weapon Of Its Own Or Via Agreements That Will Maintain The Regional
Balance Of Power "
"There
has been recent talk of Saudi Arabia’s supposed determination to buy a nuclear
bomb from Pakistan. Firstly, is this even possible in light of the
international agreements signed by both countries forbidding the owner of a
nuclear weapon to transfer or sell it? This question is especially pertinent as
Saudi Arabia is not allowed to manufacture such a weapon for military purposes.
Secondly, would such [a] nuclear weapon add any value to Saudi Arabia’s defense
systems?
"After [Saudi Arabia] bought Chinese
missiles and after news of the secret deal was leaked, it was said that Saudi
Arabia might use these missiles to carry nuclear warheads.[2] However, in 1988 the
kingdom signed a treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons aimed at
limiting the spread of nuclear weapons technology. Saudi Arabia now abides [by]
that treaty, along with 190 other countries. There have always been stories and
skeptical media campaigns stating that Saudi Arabia intends to become a nuclear
power. Such stories were supported by claims made by an employee who defected
from the Saudi embassy in New York. He said that Saudi Arabia is building a
nuclear bomb to support Iraq. Before that, a U.S. intelligence analyst had said
that Saudi Arabia [had] supported Pakistan’s nuclear project with an investment
of $2 billion.[3]
"After all these years, we are
confident that Saudi Arabia does not have [nuclear] bombs or a nuclear military
project. The question now is: If the United States allows Iran to build nuclear
weapons, why [is it not] the right of Saudi Arabia, Iran’s neighbor, to protect
itself and do the same? This would allow Saudi Arabia to maintain the balance
of power with Iran. The two countries that have been in conflict for more than
three decades. A similar situation occurred when Pakistan acquired nuclear
weapons in order to maintain the regional balance of power in light of India’s
nuclear weapon.
"From a theoretical, political and
military perspective, Saudi Arabia will have to protect itself from the Iranian
regime’s nuclear program either with a nuclear weapon or via agreements that
will maintain the regional balance of power and protect Saudi Arabia and the
Gulf states."
"Riyadh Is One Of The Potential Targets On Iran’s
Nuclear Hit List"
"Logically,
Saudi Arabia will have to do so, especially since there is a long history of
aggression orchestrated by Tehran against Riyadh. The Israelis are more than
aware of the Iranian leadership’s intentions and its lack of rationality, but
no one should ever doubt that Riyadh is one of the potential targets on Iran’s
nuclear hit list [as well]. Iran has never hesitated to directly or indirectly
target the kingdom. Although Iran recently expelled Osama bin Laden’s sons and
his wife from the country, it still holds those who executed the Khobar and
Riyadh bombings and also sponsors hostile activities in Yemen, Iraq and
Bahrain.
"When [the] Iranian nuclear weapons
are ready, they cannot be seen as a defensive weapon because Saudi Arabia has
never attacked Iran. Iran’s nuclear weapons will rather work to deter major
countries from interfering in Iran’s regional conflicts, particularly in the
Gulf. Iran might use its weapon in wars against its neighbors such as Saudi
Arabia."
"The Ideal Solution Is To Insist On Preventing Iran From
Building Nuclear Weapons"
"Although
it is not difficult to imagine the risks of allowing Iran [to] finish the
construction of its nuclear weapons, I am against setting off a nuclear weapons
race in the region. Ever since Ayatollah Khomeini stepped aboard an Air France
plane in 1979 to travel back to Iran, the Islamic Republic has caused chaos in
the region. Iran’s threats have brought the aircraft carriers and battleships
of major countries to the Gulf’s waters. Foreign powers have established [some]
five bases in the Gulf region, along with establishing conventions ensuring the
protection of the Gulf.
"Though Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
have powerful reasons to create a nuclear power-balance vis-à-vis Iran, I am
afraid that this would be a dangerous move from a security, economic and
environmental perspective. The ideal solution is to insist on preventing Iran
from building nuclear weapons. Unfortunately, however, the involvement of U.S. President Barack
Obama’s government in six months of negotiations boosts Iran’s confidence that
it can force the international community to accept it as a nuclear country,
despite all the offers, guarantees and promises made to stop this from
happening."
Endnotes:
[1]
Alarabiya.net, November 16, 2013. The translation has been lightly edited based
on the Arabic original.
[2] According to press reports, in 2011 Saudi Arabia made
a secret deal with China for the purchase of ballistic missiles capable of
carrying nuclear warheads.
[3] According to press
reports, in 1994 Muhammad Khaliwi, the second-in-command of the Saudi mission
to the United Nations, defected and applied for asylum in the United States. He
leaked over 10,000 documents of the Saudi embassy, according to which in Saudi
Arabia had helped fund the Iraqi and Pakistani nuclear programs.
MEMRI
Source: http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/7580.htm
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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