King Abdallah told an Israeli Newspaper today that Jordan will develop a "peaceful" nuclear program, he spoke in a long interview with Haaretz correspondent about recent war in Lebanon , the situation in the occupied territories and said:

"…[T]he rules have changed on the nuclear subject throughout the whole region. Where I think Jordan was saying, 'we'd like to have a nuclear-free zone in the area,' after this summer, everybody's going for nuclear programs.

The Egyptians are looking for a nuclear program. The GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] are looking at one, and we are actually looking at nuclear power for peaceful and energy purposes. We've been discussing it with the West." [Source].

It was known that Jordan was conducting a feasibility study since months and President of nuclear Pakistan has a state visit today in Amman , but the King also added that any country with a nuclear program must conform to international regulations and allow international regulatory bodies to make sure its program "moves in the right direction".

Previously both Egypt and Saudi Arabia along with Morocco , Tunisia and Algeria announced their intention to promote nuclear power for peaceful purposes, this nuclear renaissance is a clear response to other nuclear programs in the zone.

Labels: Jordan, Politics