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‘This has been Saudi Arabia’s longstanding position,’ Sullivan says of MBS nuclear pledge
Oboy — imagine the Iran-Iraq War, but with nukes. [IsraelTimes] US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan downplays Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s declaration to Fox News this week that Saudi Arabia will have to acquire a nuclear weapon if Iran does.Sullivan is asked during a press briefing whether the remark was an attempt to up the pressure on the US as it tries to negotiate a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia through which Riyadh is hoping to establish a civilian nuclear program. “No, I don’t think so,” Sullivan responds. “This has been a longstanding position of Saudi Arabia.” “Frankly, one of the major reasons that we are working overtime with partners and allies to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon, is that if they did, not only would they be a direct threat to the region and beyond, but it likely would trigger a regional arms race.” “So, it has been core to the American principle and policy with respect to ensuring Iran does not get a nuclear weapon, this risk that potentially other countries in the region would seek nuclear weapons. That’s not something that emerged yesterday in an interview. That has been a feature of the landscape going back many years.” “Now, from our perspective, we will do all that is necessary… to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon, so this hypothetical never comes to pass. That’s the stance that we take, and nothing about the comments made yesterday change or alter that.” Posted by: trailing wife 2023-09-23 |
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