Congress has reportedly received a classified assessment by the US intelligence community that Saudi Arabia has not dismissed the possibility of developing a nuclear weapons program.

Washington and Riyadh confirmed in July they had reached an agreement that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program.

US lawmakers from both parties and Israeli officials have voiced deep concern over such a project due to fears Saudi Arabia could eventually convert it to develop nuclear weapons, though it doesn’t appear likely the Republican-controlled legislature will block its implementation.

According to a report in the Washington Post, a group of Democratic senators led by Massachusetts’ Ed Markey and Jeff Merkley of Oregon sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday warning of the departure from precedent, which may spark a process “that is all but certain to allow Riyadh to acquire the means to enrich uranium and possibly develop nuclear weapons.”

Merkley told the newspaper that the situation was “bogus as hell,” arguing that Saudi demands suggested its intentions for a nuclear program go beyond civilian use.

“If they’ve given up the intent to develop a nuclear weapon, then they’d give up domestic enrichment and reprocessing power, right? They’d accept........

© The Times of Israel