A senior Russian official accused the United States on Sunday of driving more countries to consider acquiring nuclear weapons, saying Washington's policy in the Middle East, and toward Iran in particular, is producing the opposite of its intended effect.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and a former president and prime minister, said in an interview that leaders in many countries have changed how they think about nuclear arms. Discussion of such weapons was once theoretical, he said, but recent global events have altered that.
He added thay many states, including major Middle Eastern powers, are now seriously examining whether to obtain weapons of mass destruction. He attributed the shift to a growing conviction that nuclear weapons are the only strategic factor truly capable of deterring and preventing global conflict.
He then placed the blame on Washington, focusing on its handling of the government in Tehran arguing that Rrepeated U.S. attempts to undermine the foundations of the Iranian regime and to curtail the Islamic Republic's activity in the international arena are achieving precisely the opposite result. In fact, heavy American pressure and sanctions have left a growing number of states fearing for their survival and viewing nuclear armament as a necessary means of defense. He described Washington's conduct on the issue as "reckless policy" that endangers global stability.
The remarks follow earlier warnings from Medvedev, including a claim that "the chance of nuclear war between Iran and Israel is inevitable." Last March, he said U.S. and Israeli military actions had increased the risk of nuclear proliferation, not reduced it.
His comments come as the Trump administration advances a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that has stirred political and security controversy in the United States, according to reports in recent weeks. The U.S. intelligence community has given Congress classified documents containing an assessment that Saudi Arabia has not ruled out developing a nuclear weapons program in the future.
The anticipated agreement would allow American companies to lead civilian nuclear projects in the kingdom worth tens of billions of dollars. Many Democratic lawmakers fiercely oppose the initiative, warning that it could create a pathway to uranium enrichment inside Saudi Arabia reaching the 20 percent level.
Medvedev, known for his hard-line positions toward the West, is considered one of President Vladimir Putin's senior confidants. He has previously clashed with President Donald Trump and has warned of a third world war arising from tensions between the powers.
