Iran Nuclear Deal: Unclear if US withdrawal will cause agreement to collapse

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02:54

It's unclear if US withdrawal will cause the agreement with Iran to collapse. But many suspect it could have a domino effect on other countries and players in the region. On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said his country would seek nuclear weapons if Iran does. CGTN's Roee Ruttenberg explains.

While Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal this week triggered global criticism, it was welcomed by Israel and Saudi Arabia. The former already believed to be a nuclear power. The latter may be looking to get there.

Israel has been Iran's adversary for decades. Its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been leading the charge against the agreement, signed between Tehran and major international players in 2015.

Israel also maintains a policy of nuclear ambiguity. It neither confirms nor denies it has nuclear weapons as a means of deterrence. It is the only country in the Middle East that's hasn't signed a global treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.

GEORGE SZAMUELY GLOBAL POLICY INSTITUTE, LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY "No one really doubts that Israel is ready to use nuclear weapons. I don't see that they gain anything by admitting that they are a nuclear power."

Meanwhile, Riyadh has put out bids to build more than a dozen nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia over the next several years. Officially to produce energy for domestic consumption. But with its archrival Iran having the potential to develop nuclear weapons, the Saudis may soon have a similar objective.

The White House has suggested a sale to Riyadh that would restrict its ability to enrich uranium to levels needed to make a weapon. The Saudis object, and may seek other less-stringent partners.

GEORGE SZAMUELY GLOBAL POLICY INSTITUTE, LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY "I think maybe they're just talking big in order to throw some uncertainty into the equation. But, I really don't think that the Saudi's have any intentions of trying to buck with what the United States wants."

If the Iran deal collapses, Tehran itself could act faster to acquire nuclear weapons. Some fear such weapons could find their way across the border to Syria with its government largely propped-up by Iran.

Last month, Turkey started construction of its first nuclear power station. It's being built with Russian help. Russia is also building a nuclear power plant in Egypt which this week said it was concerned for the safety and stability of the region and its people.

ROEE RUTTENBERG WASHINGTON DC "Experts warn: the more these materials move around, from state to state, the more likely they could fall into the hands of non-state players, like Hezbollah and ISIL. That, they say, may be a threat far greater than any regional arms race. Roee Ruttenberg, CGTN, in Washington."