Saudi Arabia: If Iran gets a bomb, we will too. US deal fuels fears.

Saudi Arabia does not want a nuclear bomb, its crown prince says. But he adds a clear warning: if Iran builds one, the kingdom will follow “as soon as possible.” That warning now carries new weight. The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a nuclear agreement. The deal gives Saudi Arabia access to nuclear technology. Critics call the pact a “bomb-in-waiting.” They fear the technology could be used to build weapons. Saudi Arabia insists its program is for peaceful energy. The timing is sensitive. Iran continues to enrich uranium. This moves it closer to weapons-grade material. Saudi leaders see this as a direct threat. The deal does not give Saudi Arabia a bomb. But it gives it the tools to build one quickly. The crown prince’s statement makes the goal clear: the kingdom wants the ability to match Iran, if needed. No timeline is set for a Saudi nuclear weapon. But the agreement has changed the region’s balance. The question is no longer “if” but “when.”