‘This has been Saudi Arabia’s longstanding position,’ Sullivan says of MBS nuclear pledge

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.”