Ex-Iranian Commander Claims Saudi Arabia Possesses Nuclear Weapons, Says U.S. and Israel Are Aware

Tehran: Saudi Arabia, already a major military power in the Arab world, may possess nuclear weapons, according to a sensational claim by former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) senior official Hussein Kanani Moghadam. Speaking to U.S. journalist Rick Sanchez, Moghadam stated that while Saudi Arabia publicly denies having nuclear weapons, the reality is different. He added that the United States and Israel are also aware of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear capabilities.

Alleged Discussions with U.S. and Israel
In the interview, the former IRGC commander claimed, “It is not only Iran; the U.S. and Israel have knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear arsenal. Saudi Arabia has held discussions with both countries on this issue. In exchange for recognition of Israel, the U.S. allegedly agreed to tacitly accept Saudi nuclear weapons.”

Nuclear Weapons in Abraham Accords Talks
Moghadam further said that the matter of Saudi nuclear weapons was reportedly discussed during negotiations related to the Abraham Accords. According to Iranian intelligence, the U.S. had considered giving informal approval for Saudi Arabia’s nuclear weapons contingent on Riyadh signing the Abraham Accords. Although initial agreements were tentatively reached, these discussions later stalled.

Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear Ambitions
Despite Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s reportedly positive stance, Saudi Arabia has not formally signed the Abraham Accords, partly due to Israel’s 2023 military actions in Gaza, and the absence of official diplomatic relations with Israel. Officially, Saudi Arabia has no confirmed nuclear weapons. However, the kingdom has repeatedly expressed interest in developing nuclear capabilities. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has a security agreement with nuclear-armed Pakistan, stipulating that an attack on one country would be considered an attack on both.