Saudi Arabia's Readiness to Fully Accept IAEA Inspections and Safeguards

Saudi Arabia announced on Monday its decision to accept all IAEA monitoring and safeguards measures, ending the 'simple level of agency oversight' on its nuclear activities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has long urged Saudi Arabia to make such a change. Saudi Arabia aims to expand its nascent nuclear program to eventually include sensitive activities such as uranium enrichment. According to Reuters, it is unclear where Saudi Arabia's nuclear ambitions will lead, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has stated for years that if its regional rival, Iran, acquires nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia will also produce nuclear weapons. Bin Salman reiterated these remarks in a recent interview with Fox News. However, experts suggest that such activities could be sensitive given the global push against the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Eric Brewer, Vice President of the non-governmental organization 'Nuclear Threat Initiative' in Washington, stated that such statements from Saudi leadership make it 'very, very difficult' for President Joe Biden's administration to gain congressional approval for a peaceful nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia. He shared this opinion on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. According to Reuters, since Riyadh has not yet activated its first nuclear reactor, its nuclear program remains under a protocol with less stringent safeguards. This protocol exempts less advanced nuclear countries from many reporting obligations and agency inspections. Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, has urged dozens of countries under agreements based on this protocol to either cancel or amend those agreements. He described low-level inspections as a 'weakness' in the global non-proliferation regime. The IAEA has been negotiating with Riyadh for years to join and implement a comprehensive safeguards agreement. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Minister of Energy, speaking through a translator at the IAEA's annual public conference, stated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recently decided to move towards implementing a comprehensive safeguards agreement, which entails stricter oversight of its nuclear program. If Saudi Arabia imports nuclear materials to its first nuclear reactor—a low-power research reactor in Riyadh nearing completion—its inspection exemptions under the simpler oversight protocol will be revoked. Prince Abdulaziz did not specify whether Saudi Arabia intends to sign the IAEA's Additional Protocol, which allows for broader inspections and unannounced visits. Iran implemented the Additional Protocol under the 2015 nuclear agreement (JCPOA) with major powers, but after former President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, the Islamic Republic halted its implementation. Raisi defended uranium enrichment to levels close to weapon-grade, expressing concern over the potential for the Islamic Republic to acquire nuclear weapons; if they have them, we must have them too. The Gulf Cooperation Council warned the Islamic Republic about uranium enrichment and the Arash oil field. The U.S. denied an agreement with Saudi Arabia on a 'framework' for normalizing relations with Israel.