The international community's nuclear negotiations with Tehran have already prompted other Middle Eastern countries to seek a nuclear infrastructure, explained Olli Heinonen, former deputy director of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency.
Heinonen, who previously served as head of the Department of Safeguards for the IAEA, was speaking on "Aaron Klein Investigative Radio," broadcast on New York's AM 970 The Answer and Philadelphia's NewsTalk 990.
Klein asked Heinonen whether the nuclear bargaining with Tehran "could possibly result in triggering a nuclear arms race in the Middle East?"
"I would not say a race, but certainly there will be a positioning by these countries because they have to think about their national security," he replied.
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Heinonen explained there are already signs moderate regimes like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and others are seeking a legal nuclear program.
"First of all it will take time. But what I see, for example, are ground developments in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and perhaps in the Emirates," he said.
"They have started to build their nuclear program very differently compared to that one which they had in place two years ago, three years ago, when they were only seeking to buy nuclear reactors to produce electricity.
"But now you see that they are more dealing on nuclear infrastructure," he continued. "They are going in a very reasonable way to build an infrastructure."
Heinonen said any country that abides by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons has the right to build a nuclear infrastructure.
"I wouldn't be surprised, actually, if these countries actually go in a very open matter," he said, "because I don't see any reason for them to do it in a clandestine way. Because after all, it is their right."
In an interview with CNN last week, the Saudi Ambassador to the United States refused to rule out the possibility of the Saudis building a nuclear weapon to counterbalance Iran's nuclear program.
"This is not something we would discuss publicly," stated Ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir. Later, when pressed again by CNN host Wolf Blitzer, Jubeir said, "This is not something that I can comment on, nor would I comment on."
"But the kingdom of Saudi Arabia will take whatever measures are necessary in order to protect its security," he added. "There are two things over which we do not negotiate: Our faith and our security."
Earlier this month, Russia inked a $10 billion deal to build Jordan's first nuclear power plant.
In February, Russia signed a preliminary agreement to jointly build Egypt's first nuclear power plant.
The United Arab Emirates in 2009 signed a $20 billion deal with Korea Electric Power Corporation for the country's nuclear power plan which is currently under construction.