Saudis Seek Relaxed Nuclear Oversight

Saudi Arabia is seeking to permanently lower international scrutiny of its lone nuclear reactor, but a top Saudi official said Wednesday the request is not a prelude to development of nuclear weapons.

“We have no desire to acquire any type of weapon of mass destruction, period,” Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel al-Jubeir said.

The Saudi request this spring set off alarm bells at the International Atomic Energy Agency and within the Bush administration, which has accused neighboring Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as cover to develop weapons that could be used against Israel or other U.S. allies in the Middle East.

He also said reports, some based on U.S. intelligence, that Saudi Arabia has sought possible nuclear weapons help from Pakistan are “not correct.”
ABC News