Saudi Arabia ‘has not ruled out’ developing nuclear weapons – WaPo

Saudi Arabia has not ruled out developing nuclear weapons, according to a classified US intelligence assessment that has fueled concerns in Congress over President Donald Trump’s nuclear cooperation agreement with Riyadh, the Washington Post reported on Friday.

The assessment was included in classified documents provided to lawmakers as they review the landmark agreement, US officials told the newspaper. The State Department reportedly provided a separate assessment that was more confident in Saudi assurances and the safeguards built into the deal.

Signed in July, the so-called Section 123 agreement lays the legal groundwork for American companies to participate in tens of billions of dollars’ worth of civilian nuclear projects in Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration has argued that the arrangement will strengthen nonproliferation standards while preventing Riyadh from turning to Russia or China for nuclear cooperation.