US allows Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium

A nuclear deal has been drafted to allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its territory. However, the deal is currently stalled due to the lack of final signature by US President Donald Trump. Negotiations for the deal were concluded in October 2015, but Trump is reportedly delaying signing it due to the ongoing war with Iran. In addition, there is a risk of facing bipartisan opposition in the US Congress.
The main way to make a nuclear bomb is to enrich uranium. Usually, a country imports uranium from other countries rather than producing it itself for civilian purposes. Experts have warned that without strict regulations, the deal could give Saudi Arabia a path to making nuclear weapons. Earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also said that if Iran builds a nuclear bomb, Saudi Arabia will also build one.
The most worrying thing is that the deal does not include any strict monitoring rules by the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). As a result, the agency will not be able to inspect suspected Saudi nuclear facilities from time to time. The whole matter will be regulated only by a bilateral agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia. In 2009, the United Arab Emirates abandoned its desire for such technology and signed an agreement to adhere to strict international rules, which is known as the ‘gold standard’ of nuclear safety.
Many experts believe that giving this technology on Saudi soil is dangerous, because they could take control of the plant at any time. On the other hand, supporters of the agreement argue that it will bring huge benefits to the American nuclear business.
In addition, if the United States does not sign the agreement, Saudi Arabia can more easily obtain this technology from Russia or China. However, according to opponents, if the United States signs an agreement with such loose rules, it will become difficult to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons around the world.

Source: CNN