DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on Sunday that Iran’s Arab neighbors in the Gulf would act to bolster their security if Tehran were to obtain nuclear weapons.
The U.S.-Iranian indirect talks to salvage a 2015 nuclear pact between world powers and Iran, from which Washington withdrew in 2018, stalled in September. The UN nuclear chief said he was concerned about a recent announcement from Tehran that it was increasing its enrichment capacity.
“If Iran gets a working nuclear weapon, all bets are off,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said in an onstage interview at the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi when asked about such a scenario.
“We are in a very dangerous space in the region…you can expect regional states to certainly look to how they can ensure their own security.”
Nuclear talks have stalled, with Western powers accusing Iran of having unreasonable demands, and the focus is on the Russian-Ukrainian war as well as internal unrest in Iran over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22 years old.
Although Riyadh remained “skeptical” of the Iran nuclear deal, Prince Faisal said he supported efforts to revive the pact “provided it is a starting point, not a point.” final” for a more solid agreement with Tehran.
Sunni-led Gulf Arab states have been pushing for a stronger deal that addresses their concerns about Shiite Iran’s missile and drone program and regional proxy network.
“The current signs are unfortunately not very positive,” Prince Faisal said.
“We are learning from the Iranians that they have no interest in a nuclear weapons program, it would be very comforting to be able to believe that. We need more assurance on this level.”
Iran says its nuclear technology is for civilian use only.
A senior Emirati official said on Saturday there was an opportunity to revisit the “whole concept” of the nuclear pact given the current focus on Tehran’s weapons, with Western states accusing Russia of using Iranian drones to attack targets in Ukraine. Iran and Russia deny the charges.
(Reporting by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
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