Saudi Arabia has said the West is partly to blame for the current nuclear stand-off with Iran because it allowed Israel to develop nuclear weapons.
The Saudi foreign minister told the BBC statements made by Iran’s president were “extreme” but that diplomacy was the way to resolve the crisis. Prince Saud al-Faisal was giving a rare interview while in London for a two-day terrorism conference.
He has chosen this visit to call for a nuclear-free zone in the Gulf. Prince Saud told the BBC that the West was partly responsible for the current stand-off with Iran over its nuclear policy because, he said, it had helped Israel develop its own nuclear arsenal.
But when asked how Saudi Arabia would respond if Iran acquired nuclear weapons, he ruled out joining the nuclear arms race.
He said nuclear weapons benefited no-one and that if Iran were ever to use them against Israel, it would end up killing Palestinians.
The Saudi foreign minister also called on the UK and other countries to back a Saudi initiative to set up an international counter-terrorism centre.
He said progress had been made in tackling al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia but that his government was concerned about the return of Saudi militants who had been fighting in Iraq.
Gaining the support of the public was crucial, he said, in winning the fight against terrorism.
On the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Prince Saud said he planned to thank Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday for Britain’s role, which he called both constructive and important.
The American's supported the Shah and his brutalist dictatorship of the Iranian people for decades, and then egged on Saddam's Iraq when it invaded Iran, and led to an 8-year war in which millions were killed. The US is militarily occupying two of Iran's neighbours - Afghanistan and Iraq, while having a massive military presence in the Gulf. Those reasons are enough for it to acquire nuclear weapons to defend itself, apart from the zionist entity having them as well.
I agree. I dont think Iran is going to develop N weapons. I do however think they want to build the capabilaty and knowledge such that if a bomb was needed they could quickly make one giving a strong deterence to possible nations who may attack. If Israel was not helped into building the weapon by UK, Holland, France and Norway I dont think the Iranians would be so determined.
U.S and the Western World helped Iran achieve its Nuclear State. In 1960, Iran laid the foundation with the help and protection of the U.S. During Iran-Iraq war the progress was halted. It was not until 2002, U.S started to question Iran's intention and its nuclear capabilities because U.S believes that Iran is more likely to intiate war with Israel than vise versa. Also, MKO (terrorist group) presence made it worst of Iran to prove its point of energy and self reliance.
Should Iran go ahead or not? I think they should because in time of war, no country will be there to watch their back or help them out. They'll be left high and dry. This is only way they can show and sustain any kind of resistence against U.S and its Allies.