Saudi Arabia is not known to have anuclear weapons program. From an official and public standpoint, Saudi Arabia has been an opponent of nuclear weapons in theMiddle East, having signed theTreaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and is a member of the coalition of countries demanding anuclear weapon free zone in the Middle East.[1][2] Intelligence assessment on nuclear proliferation have not Saudi Arabia as a country of concern, and the United States has formed theIP3 International to transfer the civilian nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia on June 2016.[3]
However, over the years there have been media reports of Saudi Arabia's intent to purchase a nuclear weapon from an outside source. In 2003, a leaked strategy paper laid out three possible options for the Saudi government: to acquire a nuclear deterrent, to ally with and become protected by an existing nuclear nation, or to try to reach agreement on having a nuclear-free Middle East. The UN officials and IAEA weapons experts have suggested the review was prompted by a distancing of relations with theUnited States, concerns over Iran's nuclear program, and a lack of international pressure on Israel to give up its nuclear weapons.[4]
The Saudi interests innuclear power began in April 2010 whenSaudi government in Riyadh declared to start a nuclear power program, initially without the cooperation from other nuclear power nations, with the statement: "The development of atomic energy is essential to meet the Kingdom's growing requirements for energy to generate electricity, produce desalinated water and reduce reliance on depleting hydrocarbon resources".[5] The Saudi government set-up the agency, theKing Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE) to oversee the civilian nuclear program while commissioning theFinnish consulting firm,Pöyry PLC to assists in expounding "high-level strategy in the area of nuclear and renewable energy applications" with desalination.[5]
In 2015, Saudi Arabia reached and signed an agreement withSouth Korea to start the work on the reactor technology (SMART reactors) to be jointly developed byKorea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and the KA-CARE. In 2017, Saudi Arabia signed an agreement withChina to explore the uranium as a joint venture between ChineseNational Nuclear Corporation and theSaudi Geological Survey.[5]
In 2018, the Saudi officials had staff level meetings inFrance andRussia where the several transactions, among the establishment of atomic foundations in Saudi Arabia, were signed asmemorandum of understanding (MoU) on establishing nuclear energy sites in the country.[6] The Saudi nuclear program attracted much more controversy when it reached out to Pakistan to help establish the nuclear physics laboratory, which can be purposed to understand nuclear weapons environment.[7][6][8]
The western media outlets have widely speculated that Saudi Arabia had been a major investor of Pakistan's covertnuclear weapons program since 1974, a program founded by formerprime ministerZulfikar Ali Bhutto.[9][10] In early 1980s,PresidentZia-ul-Haq had allegedly told the Saudi dignitaries that "Our achievements are yours".[9] In May 1998, the Saudi Arabia played a key role in stabilizing the country's economy when the decision was made to conduct the nuclear weapons testing in a view of balancing the act of power inSouth Asia.[9] In June 1998, Prime ministerNawaz Sharif publicly thankedKing Fahd doing his farewell visit to the Kingdom.[9] In 1999, Prime minister Sharif approved the request ofSaudi Minister of DefensePrince Sultan to visit the country's nuclear physics laboratories, which raised the concerns of nuclear proliferation.[9]
After this visit, the European diplomats and media have long suspected that "an agreement" exists between two nations in which Pakistan would sell Saudi Arabia a nuclear warhead if the security in thePersian Gulf deteriorate.[10] These allegations have been sharply denied and refuted by both nations.[10] In 2003, the American think tank,GlobalSecurity.org, reported that a secret understanding between two nations on selling a nuclear warhead has been reached in return for access to Saudioil for Pakistan.[11]
In March 2006, theGerman magazine,Cicero, alleged that Saudi Arabia has been receiving assistance from Pakistan to acquire missiles with published satellite photos that revealed amissile silo with nuclear silos allegedly containing theGhauri nuclear warheads inAl-Sulaiyil, south of the capitalRiyadh, followed by anothermissile silo site in al-Watah.[12] The Government of Pakistan has sharply denied the allegations in aiding Saudi Arabia in its nuclear ambitions.
In 2013, theBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which used multiple past sources, again leveled allegations on Pakistan by providing the Saudis with the nuclear warhead with and various sources also telling theBBC Persian, regarding Saudi government belief that they are able to gainnuclear weapons at will.[13][14]
TheObama administration (2009–17), which had witnessed the tense relations betweenPakistan–United States, had told theThe Times that "Riyadh could have the nuclear warheads in a matter of days of approaching Islamabad." On commenting of the security in the Gulf region, thePakistan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia,Muhammad Naeem, reaffirmed his country's commitment to the Saudi Arabia as the "security of the Kingdom not just as a diplomatic or an internal matter but as a personal matter with the Saudi leadership considered Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to be one country. Any threat to Saudi Arabia is also a threat to Pakistan."[15] Nonetheless, the allegations were leveled up on Pakistan with European intelligence sources having being told theThe Guardian that theSaudi monarchy has paid for up to 60% of the Pakistan's atomic bomb projects and in return has the option to buy five to six nuclear warheads off the shelf.[16]
In 2013, British journalist,Mark Urban andAmos Yadlin, a former head ofIsraeli military intelligence, told a conference inSweden that ifIran got the bomb, "the Saudis will not wait one month. They already paid for the bomb, they will go to Pakistan and bring what they need to bring." Since 2009, whenKing Abdullah of Saudi Arabia warned visiting U.S. special envoy to the Middle EastDennis Ross that if Iran crossed the threshold, "we will get nuclear weapons", the Kingdom has sent the Americans numerous signals of its intentions.Gary Samore, who until March 2013 was PresidentBarack Obama's counter-proliferation adviser, toldBBC Newsnight: "I do think that the Saudis believe that they have some understanding with Pakistan that, in extremis, they would have claim to acquire nuclear weapons from Pakistan."[17]
The Government of Pakistan have denied the existence of any such agreement, followed by the confirmation from Saudi Arabia.[18] According to the American based think-tank, theCenter for Strategic and International Studies, the BBC report on possiblenuclear sharing between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is partially incorrect. There is no indication of the validity or credibility of the BBC’s sources, nor does the article expand on what essentially constitutes an unverified lead. It noted that if Pakistan were to transfer nuclear warheads onto Saudi soil, it is highly unlikely that either nation would face any international repercussions if both nations were to follow strict nuclear sharing guidelines similar to that ofNATO.[19] A research paper produced by theBritish House of CommonsDefence Select Committee states that as long as current NATO nuclear sharing arrangements remain in place, NATO states would have few valid grounds for complaint if such a transfer were to occur.[20]
In May 2008, theUnited States andSaudi Arabia signed amemorandum of understanding, as part of the United States' vintageAtoms for Peace program, to boost Saudi efforts for a civilian nuclear program. The program did not involve support for the development of nuclear weapons.[21][22]
In January 2012,Chinese PremierWen Jiabao signed a mutual cooperation deal on nuclear energy withKing Abdullah, during Premier Jiabao's visit to theMiddle East.[23][24] The details of such cooperation were not fully provided by the government-controlledSaudi Press Agency, but according to Hashim Yamani, president of theKing Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, the kingdom has planned 16 commercial nuclear power reactors by 2030.[25]
In 1994,Mohammed al Khilewi, second-in-command of the Saudi mission to theUnited Nations, applied forasylum in theUnited States. He provided a packet of 10,000 documents[citation needed] that allegedly described long-time Saudi support of theIraqi nuclear weapons program. According to these documents, duringSaddam Hussein's administration inIraq the Saudis supported the Iraqi nuclear program with $5 billion, on the condition that workable nuclear technology and possibly even nuclear weapons would be transferred to Saudi Arabia.[26] Khilewi obtained asylum in the US, with the consent of Saudi Arabia. Khilewi's allegations have not been confirmed by any other source. US officials have stated that they have no evidence of Saudi assistance to Iraqi nuclear development.[27] Saudi officials denied the allegations.[2]
SeniorClinton administration officials responsible for Mideast affairs at the time Khilewi sought asylum, includingRobert Pelletreau of theState Department andBruce Riedel of theNational Security Council, said they found nothing in Khilewi's debriefings to back up the Media reports about a Saudi nuclear program. "There was nothing there," Pelletreau said. (Vartan 2005)
TheArab States of the Persian Gulf plan to start their own joint civilian nuclear program. An agreement in the final days of theBush administration provided for cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America in which the United States would sell the UAE nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel. The UAE would, in return, renounce their right to enrich uranium for their civilian nuclear program. At the time of signing, this agreement was touted as a way to reduce risks ofnuclear proliferation in the Persian Gulf. However, Mustafa Alani of theDubai-basedGulf Research Center stated that, should the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty collapse, nuclear reactors such as those slated to be sold to the UAE under this agreement could provide the UAE with a path toward a nuclear weapon, raising the specter of further nuclear proliferation.[28] In March 2007, foreign ministers of the six-memberGulf Cooperation Council met in Saudi Arabia to discuss progress in plans agreed in December 2006, for a joint civilian nuclear program.[29]
In 2011, PrinceTurki al-Faisal, who has served as the Saudi intelligence chief and as ambassador to the United States has suggested that the kingdom might consider producing nuclear weapons if it found itself between the atomic arsenals of Iran and Israel.[30] In 2012, it was confirmed that Saudi Arabia would launch its own nuclear weapons program immediately if Iran successfully developed nuclear weapons. In such an eventuality, Saudi Arabia would start work on a new ballistic missile platform, purchase nuclear warheads from overseas and aim to source uranium to develop weapons-grade material.
In May 2015, in response toThe Sunday Times of London report that the Saudis had "taken the 'strategic decision' to acquire 'off-the-shelf' atomic weapons from Pakistan," amid growing fears of a nuclear-armed Iran,[31] a Saudi defense official dismissed it as speculation.[32]
In March 2018, the crown prince said if Iran decided to build a nuclear weapon, "we will follow suit as soon as possible". This prompted U.S. SenatorEd Markey to comment "nuclear energy in Saudi Arabia is about more than just electrical power", implying Saudi Arabia was interested in nuclear power to gain the skills to be able to develop weapons. This potentially reduces the probability of a nuclear deal with the U.S.[33]
in May 2018,Al Jazeera media reported the statement from the former director of Al Arabiya TV, Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed, who wrote in the Ash-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper an article while accompanying PrinceMohammed bin Salman on his recent visit to Washington that no one can confirm if Saudi Arabia is capable of building a nuclear weapon yet.[34] However, the news former director has pointed out that Riyadh owns uranium materials in its desert, and has adopted a plan to extract it within 2030.[34]
In March,Donald Trump's administration approved a deal allowing Saudi Arabia access to nuclear secrets through the U.S. energy secretary Rick Perry, with an approval known as Part 810 authorizations. Although it doesn't allow to access equipment required to process Uranium, it allows the 6 companies involved to do preliminary work on nuclear power ahead of any deal. In a document from theDepartment of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) each of the companies which received access requested that the NNSA withhold their authorization from public release.[35]
According to reports,Saudi Arabia initiated the construction of its first research reactor at theKing Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology. In May 2020, satellite images revealed that a roof concealed the cylindrical reactor vessel, which was visible through roof beams in a satellite picture until 15 March 2020. The Kingdom was using the division for the generation ofelectricity, to export crude consumed for domestic energy needs, generate more revenue for the government, and create a handful of job opportunities. However, experts raised a doubt, as the country already possessed cheaper, safer, and renewable ways to achieve these objectives from sunlight. It was also reported that Saudi Arabia did not sign up to halt the enrichment ofuranium, reprocessing of spent fuel and neither signed the123 Agreement with theUnited States.[36]
Saudi Arabia constructed a facility for extracting uraniumyellowcake fromuranium ore with the help ofChina. According to a western official, the facility was built near the remote town ofAlUla. Saudi Arabia has signed most limited safeguard agreement with theInternational Atomic Energy Agency.[37]
On 17 September 2020,The Guardian reported Saudi Arabia of being in possession of enoughuranium ore reserves to produce 90,000 tonnes worth of uranium. It stated the finding on the basis of the reports compiled by the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology (BRIUG) and theChina National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), in association with Saudi Geological survey. As per the reports, three different deposits in the central and northwest region of the country were reported to be potential for the extraction. The disclosure reportedly increased concerns regarding Riyadh’s aggressive interest in developing atomic weapons program. In this report geologists identified some reserves near the controversialNeom megacity development are and estimated that Saudi could produce over 90,000 tonnes of uranium from three deposits.[38]
In January 2023, Saudi Arabian Energy MinisterPrince Abdulaziz Bin Salman said Saudi Arabia plans to use domestically-sourced uranium in its future nuclear power industry, including developing the fullnuclear fuel cycle. He said "This would involve the entire nuclear fuel cycle which involves the production of yellowcake, low enriched uranium and the manufacturing of nuclear fuel both for our national use and, of course, for export."[39]
In May 2025, U.S. CongresswomanMarjorie Taylor Greene, a member of the counterterrorism and intelligence subcommittee of theHouse Homeland Security Committee, stated on Twitter that "Saudi Arabia has nuclear weapons". She did not offer further clarification.[40]
In 1987, Saudi Arabia secretly negotiated and purchased Chinese-madeCSS-2intermediate-range ballistic missiles, designed and used by the China as a nuclear-armed missile, but reportedly sold to Saudi Arabia with conventional high-explosive warheads.[41] However their lowcircular error probable accuracy (1–1.5 km (0.62–0.93 mi)) makes them unsuitable for effective military use against military targets when carrying a conventional warhead.[42] The CSS-2 has a range of 4,850 km (3,010 mi) with a payload of either2,150 kg (4,740 lb) or 2,500 kg (5,500 lb). These missiles were delivered with between 35 to 50transporter erector launcher trucks.[43] These missiles were the first weapons of theRoyal Saudi Strategic Missile Force, a separate branch of Saudi Arabia's armed forces. In 2013, the existence of the Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force was officially announced.[44]
The American political outlet, theNewsweek, quoted an anonymous source in 2014 that Saudi Arabia had acquiredCSS-5intermediate-range ballistic missiles from China in 2007 with "Bush administration's quiet approval on the condition that CIA technical experts could verify they were not designed to carry nuclear warheads".[45] TheCenter for Strategic and International Studies lists the CSS-5 as being capable of carrying either 250-kiloton or 500-kiloton nuclear or various types of conventional high-explosive warheads.[46] The CSS-5, while it has a comparatively shorter range (2,800 km (1,700 mi) ) and half thepayload (1 ton) of the CSS-2, is solid-fueled, thus can be set up and placed on alert status more easily than the liquid-fueled CSS-2, and its accuracy is much greater (circular error probable of 30 meters).[47]
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