THE NEW YORK TIMES: An intelligence assessment examined Saudi Arabia’s military ambitions as Congress reviews a new civilian nuclear deal between the U.S. and the kingdom.
A classified intelligence assessment provided to the U.S. Congress asserted that Saudi Arabia has left open the option of developing a nuclear weapon, according to American officials.
The assessment was sent to lawmakers who are looking into the Trump administration’s agreement to help Saudi Arabia develop nuclear power for civilian purposes. Some lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns about the project, fearing that the kingdom could use it to eventually develop nuclear weapons.
The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss classified material, emphasized that Saudi Arabia has not made any decision to pursue a nuclear weapon.
On one level the assessment is not new. American officials have long assessed that Saudi Arabia remains interested in having nuclear weapons, given that the country has threatened to build them if Iran did so. » | Julian E. Barnes and Robert Jimison | Julian Barnes covers the U.S. intelligence community and Robert Jimison covers Congress. | Friday, September 25, 2026
How ridiculous! Donald Trump is cool with Saudi Arabia developing nuclear weapons but is willing to put Americans' lives on the line and be at war with Iran because the Iranians want nuclear material for peaceful purposes! This news will go down like a lead balloon in Tehran, to be sure. Has Trump never learned the expression, ‘what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander’? Does Trump really think that this move will be conducive to bringing peace to the region? — © Mark Alexander
