WASHINGTON [MENL] — The gap between Saudi Arabia and the United States has
been widening over policy toward a nuclear Iran, a report said.

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy asserted that the Saudis
appear far more alarmed over an Iran with nuclear weapons than the United
States. The report, by Simon Henderson, a leading analyst on the Gulf, said
Riyad was signaling its readiness to even form an alliance with
Israel against Teheran.

“On Iran, there is a widening if not unbridgeable gap between the two
countries [Saudi Arabia and the United States],” the report, titled “I Don’t
Want to Hold Your Hand,” said.

Henderson, regarded as close to the leadership of several of the Gulf
Cooperation Council states, cited a June 12 story in the London Times. The
Times, in an article quoted by the Saudi-controlled media, reported
that Riyad would allow Israeli warplanes to use the kingdom’s territory
for an attack on Iran.

“Although officially denied by Saudi officials, the Times stood by its
report,” the report said. “Its editor would not run such a story without
being confident of the sources.”

The report was released on June 29 during the meeting of Saudi King
Abdullah and U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. This marked
their second meeting in three days in what Henderson said was meant to focus
on Iran and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and
Jerusalem.

Henderson said Abdullah has been pleased with Obama’s pro-Islamic
policy, particularly the rising U.S. tension with Israel over the lack of
progress in negotiations the Palestinian Authority. But the report said the
Saudi king, concerned over Iran, has continued to avoid a close relationship
with Washington.

“Abdullah is trying to gain more room to maneuver in the Sunni-Shi’ite
rivalry and between extremists and moderates within Sunni Islam,” Abdullah
said. “To do so, he has to erode the notion that the House of Saud is a pawn
of Uncle Sam.”

The report cited the decision by Saudi Arabia to slash crude oil
production. With Riyad exploiting only 70 percent of its output capacity of
12.5 million barrels of oil per day, the Saudi royal family has managed to
reduce U.S. influence.

Instead, Abdullah has decided to develop nuclear energy in Saudi Arabia
in what the report asserted marked a response to Iran’s program. The report
expected the kingdom to receive significant nuclear help from Pakistan, the
closest ally of Riyad.
“…The kingdom will diverge even further from its decades-old bond with
Washington.”

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