Saudis plan to join nuclear arms race
The former Saudi intelligence agency chief has announced that Riyadh may obtain nuclear weapons in line with plans to join “a nuclear arms race.”
Prince Turki al-Faisal, who was addressing a security forum in Riyadh on Monday, said, “It is our duty toward our nation and people to consider all possible options, including the possession of these weapons,” AFP reported.
“Our efforts and those of the world have failed to convince Israel to abandon its weapons of mass destruction,” Faisal added.
In June, Abdul Ghani Malibari, coordinator at the Saudi civil nuclear agency, had said that Riyadh plans to build 16 “civilian nuclear reactors” in the next two decades at a cost of 300 billion riyals (USD 80 billion).
The former Saudi intelligence chief also accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons program.
The United States, Israel, and some of their allies, including Saudi Arabia, accuse Iran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program. Iran argues that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes.
Israel, which is widely believed to possess over 300 nuclear warheads, has test fired a new long-range missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. This three-stage Jericho-3 missile can deliver a 750-kilo warhead to a distance and is estimated to have a range of up to 10,000 kilometers.
Israel refuses to allow the inspection of its nuclear facilities or to join the NPT based on its policy of nuclear ambiguity.
Source: presstv.com
