Tuesday 8 April 2025
Saudi Arabia Fears Iran May Go Nuclear
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Although Trump has shown his desire to negotiate a new deal, Irans stance has been inconsistent. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently said that negotiations with the United States were not smart.” Saudi Arabia is hoping to mediate between theTrump administrationand Iran to work towards a new agreement that would curb Tehrans nuclear ambitions, according to a report.
This concern comes as Irans regional allies, which once acted as a deterrent against Israeli attacks, have weakened. Although US PresidentDonald Trump has shown his desire to negotiate a new deal,Irans stance has been inconsistent. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei recently saidthat negotiationswith the United States were not smart.”
In the past, Saudi Arabia supported the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers but later backed Trumps decision to withdraw from it in 2018. A year after the US pullout, a major drone and missile attack hit Saudi Arabias oil facilities, temporarily cutting production in half. Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility, but the US blamed Iran. However, despite this, the US did not take military action in defense of Saudi Arabia.
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have improved significantly since then. In March 2023, the two countries agreed to restore diplomatic ties in a deal brokered by China. According to a report, Saudi officials fear that if Iran feels isolated, it may be more likely to develop nuclear weapons. Officials in Riyadh see a new agreement as a way to prevent this.
Trump calls for a new deal
Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly called for a new deal with Iran. Last week, he posted on Truth Social, I want Iran to be a great and successful Country, but one that cannot have a nuclear weapon.
He added, I would much prefer a Verified Nuclear Peace Agreement, which will allow Iran to grow peacefully and prosper.
Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Khamenei has remained sceptical, saying that talks with the US are not smart, wise, or honorable due to its withdrawal from the 2015 agreement. However, he did not completely rule out future discussions with Washington. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal, is an agreement to limit the Iranian nuclear program in return for sanctions relief and other provisions.
The United States announced its withdrawal from the JCPOA, in 2018, which is an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program reached in July 2015 by Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of theUnited Nations Security CouncilChina, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United Statesplus Germany) also called E3/EU+3.
In a joint statement responding to the U.S. withdrawal, the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom stated that United Nations Security Council resolution endorsing the nuclear deal remained the “binding international legal framework for the resolution of the dispute”. Various countries, international organizations, and U.S. scholars have expressed regret or criticized the withdrawal, while U.S. conservatives, Israel, Saudi Arabia and allies have supported it. The withdrawal caused concerns in Iran due to its impact on the economy.
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