Analyse
The statement matches verbatim the transcript of MBS’s March 15, 2018, interview with *60 Minutes* (CBS News), where he explicitly tied Saudi Arabia’s nuclear ambitions to Iran’s actions. His phrasing—'we will follow suit as soon as possible'—was widely quoted by major outlets (e.g., *The New York Times*, *Reuters*) and remains consistent with Saudi Arabia’s long-stated policy of *nuclear hedging* (maintaining the option to develop weapons if regional threats escalate). No credible evidence or retraction contradicts this claim.
Achtergrond
Saudi Arabia, a signatory to the *Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)*, has repeatedly denied current plans to develop nuclear weapons but has signaled contingency plans if Iran (a fellow NPT signatory with a contested nuclear program) were to acquire a bomb. MBS’s remark reflected Riyadh’s strategic ambiguity, amplified by Saudi investments in nuclear infrastructure (e.g., uranium exploration, reactor projects) and U.S. intelligence assessments of Saudi Arabia’s latent capabilities.
Samenvatting verdict
Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) did state in a 2018 *CBS News* interview that Saudi Arabia would pursue nuclear weapons if Iran acquired them, aligning with multiple credible reports and transcripts of the conversation.