Small Quantities Protocol News Today

The Middle East is accelerating its shift towards nuclear energy, with countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the way.

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If Saudi Arabia were ever to became ‘nuclear-armed’, it would set off a chain reaction that would augur badly for the region, Mehran Kamrava, Professor of Government at Georgetown University Qatar, told Sputnik.

Saudi Arabia has announced it intends to move towards implementing full International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear safeguards as it works towards building its first nuclear power plant.

Saudi Arabia said on Monday it has decided to end light-touch oversight of its nuclear activities by the U.N. atomic watchdog and switch to full-blown safeguards, a change the agency has been demanding for years. Saudi Arabia has a nascent nuclear programme that it wants to expand to eventually include activities like proliferation-sensitive uranium enrichment.…

Energy minister tells IAEA that kingdom is ready to switch from existing Small Quantities Protocol monitoring to full-scope Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement

The news comes amid increasing concern about Saudi Arabia's intentions with the technology, and the potential for a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

Riyadh has yet to fire up its first nuclear reactor, allowing its programme to still be monitored under the Small Quantities Protocol.

The news comes amid increasing concern about Saudi Arabia’s intentions with the technology, and the potential for a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

Official statements at the latest IAEA meeting are effectively a concession in the kingdom’s negotiating stance on normalization with Israel.