Saudi Arabia, Russia to sign nuclear pact

Riyadh and Moscow are in talks to sign a nuclear contract, which would mark the start of technical and nuclear cooperation between the two countries.

“Signing a nuclear agreement between the two countries will open room for (further) cooperation between them,” the Russian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Oleg Ozerov told Al-Watan daily.

“Nuclear cooperation will pave the way for the oil-rich [Persian] Gulf monarchy to implement a civil atomic program,” Ozerov said.

A final agreement, however, has yet to be reached.

“We believe that if a final agreement was reached with the Saudi part, it will be a start for positive and constructive technical and nuclear cooperation between Riyadh and Moscow,” he added.

In April, the government of Saudi Arabia announced the establishment of the center for research and development into nuclear and renewable energies, and named former commerce minister Hashem bin Abdullah Yamani as its head.

Riyadh considered a similar pact with France in July which is in the signing process.

Saudi Arabia also reached a nuclear agreement with the US in 2008.