Under the Shah, Reza Pahlavi, Iran was the first Persian - or Arabian - Gulf nation to aspire for Nuclear weapons. Whether it wanted them for power or prestige, the Iranian ambition launched a race joined by Iraq under Saddam Hussein. With Iraq out for the last 20 years, and the Islamic Republic patiently pursuing its program, the new kid in the block is Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is negotiating with the United States for the supply of civilian Nuclear facilities, which could enable him to later turn to a military track. Where are these two lines of effort at, and what is the inter-relationship between them?
To analyze it, let’s turn to New York city Dr. Olli Heinonen, Former International Atomic Energy Agency Deputy Director General and a Distinguished Fellow, Stimson Center, Washington, D.C. Central Israel Dr. Meir Javedanfar, Iran lecturer, Reichman University TV7 At Large Amir Oren.
