Saudi Crown Prince Signals a Nuclear Arms Race Conditional on Iran’s Capabilities: A Conundrum for Global Diplomacy
In an exclusive interview with American broadcaster Fox News, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman raised geopolitical stakes, stating Saudi Arabia will pursue nuclear weapons should Iran acquire them first. This assertion heightens concerns about a potential arms race in the Middle East, which could imperil regional and global stability.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman-Image Source: Sky News
“Mohammed bin Salman did not mince words when indicating that Saudi Arabia would equal Iran’s nuclear capabilities, should Iran successfully arm itself with a nuclear bomb,” reported Fox News. He added, however, that owning nuclear weapons offers no practical benefit and would only incite a large-scale conflict involving the international community. “The world cannot afford another Hiroshima due to nuclear weapons,” the Crown Prince emphasized.
فيديو | #ولي_العهد لـ Fox News: إذا حازت إيران على سلاح نووي فلا بد لنا من حيازته بالمثل #لقاء_محمد_بن_سلمان #الإخبارية pic.twitter.com/sIPn7kFixS
— قناة الإخبارية (@alekhbariyatv) September 20, 2023
This is not the first time that Saudi Arabian officials have hinted at the possibility of acquiring nuclear arms. However, the overt confirmation by the Crown Prince marks a noteworthy shift in the kingdom’s nuclear stance and adds another layer of complexity to Iran-Saudi relations. Additionally, the Crown Prince affirmed that relations with Iran are improving, fueling hopes for regional security and stability. Interestingly, he revealed that China has been mediating between the two nations.
On the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Prince Mohammed bin Salman denied that talks regarding relations with Israel had been suspended. “The discussions are progressing day by day,” he said, further indicating active talks with the U.S. to alleviate the plight of Palestinians. He lauded the possibility of a Saudi-Israeli agreement as potentially the most significant since the end of the Cold War if it came to fruition under the Biden administration.
فيديو | #ولي_العهد لـ Fox News: في حال نجحت إدارة بايدن بأن تعقد اتفاق بين المملكة وإسرائيل فسيكون أضخم اتفاق منذ انتهاء الحرب الباردة#لقاء_محمد_بن_سلمان #الإخبارية
— قناة الإخبارية (@alekhbariyatv) September 20, 2023
Addressing the ongoing Yemen crisis, the Crown Prince underscored Saudi Arabia’s continued role as a leading supporter of Yemen. “We are looking forward to a sustainable political solution,” he said. As for Saudi Arabia’s oil policies, these are dictated by supply and demand dynamics, he noted. “We are committed to oil market stability and are playing our role within OPEC+ to balance the market,” the Crown Prince stated.
Furthermore, he pointed out that Saudi Arabia has achieved the fastest growth among the G20 nations for two consecutive years. “Vision 2030 is ambitious, and we’ve reached our targets ahead of schedule. Our aim is for the Kingdom to continually be at its best, transforming challenges into opportunities,” he proclaimed.
While the Crown Prince’s comments touched on a range of issues from geopolitics to energy markets, it is the nuclear assertion that arguably requires urgent international attention. Amidst ongoing dialogues and thawing relations, the specter of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East looms larger than ever, potentially recalibrating the way global powers engage with the region.
This landmark statement by Mohammed bin Salman comes at a crucial time, adding urgency to ongoing diplomatic efforts. It not only offers an eye-opening insight into Saudi Arabia’s strategic vision but also presents a formidable challenge for international diplomacy in averting a nuclear arms race in an already volatile region.
