US likely agrees to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium for purpose of developing nuclear weapons - CNN

The administration of US President Donald Trump has tentatively agreed to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium without implementing international safeguards designed to prevent the development of nuclear weapons. CNN reports this, citing its own sources.

Two unnamed CNN sources said that the delay in signing the agreement was influenced by the war against Iran, which Trump launched in part to prevent Tehran from using enriched uranium to build nuclear weapons. The US Congress believes the White House is delaying the signing because it could face a bipartisan non-approval resolution. Such a resolution could block the agreement from taking effect.

The agreement could potentially pave the way for Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons unless strict security measures are put in place. Earlier, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman threatened to develop his own nuclear weapons if Iran acquired a nuclear bomb.

Four sources reported that the agreement, which includes a treaty on cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy and an agreement on mandatory nuclear safeguards, has not yet been submitted to Congress for review.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration briefed some members of Congress on the key provisions of the nuclear agreements with Saudi Arabia. Even then, it was anticipated that the agreements would include a special provision allowing, to a certain extent, for uranium enrichment or plutonium reprocessing within the country.

This agreement serves as the legal framework allowing the US government or American companies to transfer nuclear materials and technologies for the purposes of Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear program.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on June 3, Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas stated that the country is negotiating with the US regarding the possible deployment of American nuclear weapons on its territory.

As a reminder, on May 27, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that his country would join a nuclear weapons initiative led by France.