Only because we have a cowardly, pro-Islamic, non-government -— led by an America-hating pro-Islamic in the Oval Office AND a Congress with no guts to fix the problem. Any questions?
I rather expect the real topic was Iraq and the pending U.S. military departure; with Iran seeking to sell the Saudis on the idea that any post-U.S. increase in Iranian influence in Iraq (quite likely) will not be “anti-Sunni” in nature; hoping to increase their influence in Iraq without exciting Sunni-Shia tensions there. THAT would require Iran-Saudi cooperation (to NOT fund opposing sectarian militias). Will the Saudis buy the idea is the question, and time will demonstrate the answer.
IF the Iranians offered “nuclear weapons cooperation” to the Saudis, I expect THAT was what Iran was offering for Saudi cooperation on Iraq. I don’t expect the Saudis bought the deal. Time will tell.
Iran has mastered what I call the Art of 3rd-World Dictatorship Hubris.
The weaker you actually are, especially internally, the more you show a brave and swaggering face to the outside world.
Why would the Saudis need a nuclear anyting?
I would think the Saudis looked at this as a good intel opportunity and nothing more. Let the morons talk and see if they let anything useful slip.
The Saudis must know two big things would result from any alliance with Iran:
1. They can kiss their US and (most) European weapons systems goodbye. And despite their talk of being a “world power”, Iran couldn’t replace them with squat. They’d have to start buying Russian very quickly.
2. Within 5 years, or less, the Saudi royals wouldn’t be able to call their underwear their own. The Mullahs would control Mecca and Medina.