The website Inside Over published a report shedding light on a secret U.S. offer to Saudi Arabia involving nuclear protection against Iran in exchange for Saudi investment in Gaza’s reconstruction and closer ties with Israel.
According to the report Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed that the U.S. proposed guarantees of nuclear protection to Saudi Arabia in the event Iran develops nuclear weapons. In return, Riyadh would commit to rebuilding Gaza.
The revelations, originally published on the Substack platform, are based on an Israeli source described as “reliable” and add momentum to the negotiations held in Qatar over a Gaza ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.
Nuclear Protection in Exchange for Reconstruction
The report highlighted proposals for an expanded defense treaty that includes an American “nuclear umbrella” to protect Saudi Arabia. This means that if Iran acquires military nuclear capabilities, the U.S. would intervene directly to defend Riyadh.
Hersh’s Israeli source emphasized that “the U.S. seeks to reassure Saudi Arabia, whose economic support will be crucial for Gaza’s reconstruction.”
According to the report, a long-term Saudi investment in Gaza is part of a broader strategy to involve Riyadh in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while simultaneously ensuring protection against Iran’s growing influence in the region.
Israeli and U.S. Concerns Over Iran
Hersh noted ongoing concerns in Israel and the U.S. regarding Iran’s potential enrichment of uranium for military purposes and its possible development of nuclear weapons. However, he added that no concrete evidence currently exists to prove Tehran’s intention or ability to create a nuclear weapon, especially given the setbacks suffered by its regional allies.
Despite this, the fear of Iran becoming a nuclear power remains a central focus in the defense strategies of both Israel and the U.S., the report stated.
The Cost of the Agreement
The Israeli source also revealed that the deal might include Saudi Arabia’s agreement to “turn a blind eye” to Israeli operations in the region, including strikes on targets in Syria.
The agreement could also grant Israel the green light to use a Saudi airport to store bombs and missiles, most of which are American-made. This would place these weapons “minutes, not hours” away from key Iranian targets.
Optimism and Concerns
Hersh reported that the Israeli source expressed “cautious optimism” about the possibility of reaching an agreement that includes significant Saudi investment in Gaza’s reconstruction once the conflict between Israel and Hamas ends.
However, he also noted that the deal raises numerous questions, not only about its feasibility from a diplomatic standpoint but also about the geopolitical ramifications of strengthened Saudi-Israeli ties under U.S. sponsorship. Extending the U.S. nuclear umbrella to Riyadh represents a strategic shift that could further escalate tensions in the region.
