Saudi Crown Prince's Statements on Iran at a Meeting with the New York Times

Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, stated in a meeting with journalists and the editorial board of the New York Times that "Iran's goal is to produce nuclear weapons" and "action must be taken immediately." On April 7, he said that Iran seeks nuclear weapons to carry out whatever it wants in the Middle East without worrying about reactions from others. Reports indicate that bin Salman said, "We know what Iran's goal is." He added, "If they have nuclear weapons, they will use it as a shield to do whatever they want in the Middle East, ensuring that no one will attack them, because in that case, they will use that weapon." The Crown Prince stated, "Delaying and watching them acquire a bomb means you are sitting and waiting for a bullet to hit you." He continued, "So action must be taken now." Saudi officials have recently reiterated criticisms of the nuclear agreement between the Obama administration, Britain, Germany, France, Russia, China, and Iran. They, along with Donald Trump, a staunch critic of this agreement, have called for amendments to the so-called sunset clause, meaning they seek to impose permanent restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities. They also demand all possible actions and inspections to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. On the other hand, several international news agencies have recently reported that Saudi Arabia is seeking permission for uranium enrichment and processing in negotiations with the United States for nuclear energy. According to these reports, Saudi officials in negotiations with the U.S. state that they must be able to engage in activities that could potentially bring them closer to the capability of building a nuclear bomb. This is because under the current agreement between Tehran and the six world powers, Iran will be able to increase its enrichment centrifuges after 10 years and will be allowed to increase its stock of low-enriched uranium after 15 years. Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons. Islamic Republic officials have also shown no signs of agreeing to amend or change the nuclear agreement. Tehran, meanwhile, identifies Saudi Arabia and its allies as the main cause of problems in the Middle East. In response to Mohammed bin Salman's statements about Iran, the Iranian Foreign Minister said, "Saudi Arabia is engaged in aggressive wars, bullying in the region, destabilizing behaviors, and provocative actions, and blames Iran for the consequences of these actions." Mohammed bin Salman has traveled to the United States to meet with Donald Trump. During this trip, he has held other meetings, including a recent meeting with New York Times journalists and meetings with United Nations officials. The tumultuous relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia faces new crises, and many analysts say the two sides are engaged in proxy wars and intense political rivalries in various parts of the Middle East.