Tuesday 4 August 2015 - 11:35
Story Code : 174643
Iran nuclear deal boosts Saudi demand for US weapons systems
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) US defense contractors likeRaytheon, Korb explained, have increased sales ofPatriot missile defense systems toSaudi Arabia because Riyadh fears Iran will pursue missile technologies when sanctions are lifted ineight years asa result ofTehrans nuclear deal withthe P5+1 group ofcountries.
The Saudis want the Patriot [air defense] missiles, Korb said onMonday. The Saudis feel that withIran now getting relief fromsanctions they [Iranians] are going tobe more aggressive militarily.
Other Sunni Arab Gulf monarchies, especially the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are also very concerned abouta belligerent Shia Iran emerging stronger asa result ofthe Iran nuclear deal, Korb noted.
The United States, Korb argued, has decided toassuage its Gulf allies byproviding them withmore arms viaprivate contractors and approving more foreign military sales.
To show you [Gulf allies] that we [the United States] are onyour side, well sell you more weapons.
The US is relying ondefense contractors tofill the void because ofPentagon budget constraints, Korb noted.
People likeLockheed and Boeing, the major contractors, are doing well. Their profits are up, even though our [US] defense budget has basically been frozen inplace since2011.
On Monday, Secretary ofState John Kerry said that the United States is interested inincreasing military aid tothe Gulf States.
The United States approved last week a potential multi-billion dollar sale ofadvanced Patriot surface-to-air defense systems toSaudi Arabia.
On July 14, 2015, Iran and the P5+1 group ofcountries comprised ofthe United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany, reached a final agreement that will guarantee the peaceful nature ofTehrans nuclear program inexchange forsanctions relief.
By Sputnik
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