DUBAI: On Sunday, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia stated that Iran's Gulf Arab neighbors would take steps to improve their security in the event that Tehran obtained nuclear weapons.
Backhanded US-Iranian discussions to rescue a 2015 atomic settlement between worldwide powers and Iran, which Washington left in 2018, slowed down in September. The UN nuclear chief has expressed concern regarding Tehran's recent announcement that it was increasing its capacity for enrichment.
When asked about such a scenario, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud stated, "If Iran gets an operational nuclear weapon, all bets are off" during an on-stage interview at the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi. "You can expect that regional states will certainly look towards how they can ensure their own security" because "we are in a very dangerous space in the region."
The Western powers have accused Iran of making unreasonable demands, the focus has shifted to the Russia-Ukraine war and domestic unrest in Iran over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in custody, and the nuclear talks have stopped.
Prince Faisal stated that Riyadh supported efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal "on condition that it be a starting point, not an end point" for a stronger deal with Tehran, despite Riyadh's continued "scepticism" regarding the agreement.
Sunni Arab states have pressed for a stronger agreement to address their concerns about the missile and drone program and regional proxy network of Shi'ite Iran.
Prince Faisal stated, "The signs right now are not very positive unfortunately."
"It would be very comforting to be able to believe that the Iranians have no interest in a nuclear weapons program. On that level, we require additional security."
Iran claims that it only uses its nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Given the current spotlight on Tehran's weapons and Western states accusing Russia of using Iranian drones to attack targets in Ukraine, a senior Emirati official stated on Saturday that there was an opportunity to revisit "the whole concept" of the nuclear pact. Russia and Iran deny the allegations.