Saudi Arabia is pursuing its own nuclear projects and building alliances to counter Iran, which is days away from a potential atomic deal Riyadh fears could further destabilise the region.
The United States and other major powers will hold weekend talks with Iran in Vienna, aiming to finalise by Tuesday an agreement to prevent Tehran from getting a nuclear weapon.
Sunni-dominated Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, have concerns that Shiite Iran, Riyadh's regional rival, could still be able to develop a weapon under the emerging deal to end 12 years of nuclear tensions.
They also worry Washington is not taking their concerns about Iran's "destabilising acts" in the Middle East seriously enough.
On Wednesday, France and Saudi Arabia announced a feasibility study for building two nuclear reactors in the kingdom.
Like its neighbour the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia wants to diversify its energy sources and has plans for 16 reactors.
The Paris pact is the third nuclear accord Riyadh has signed this year.
Last week, it reached a deal with Russia on economic, technical and scientific ties for the peaceful use of atomic energy. In March, the kingdom signed a preliminary deal for nuclear cooperation with South Korea.
"Saudi Arabia is going big with its nuclear project," said Jamal Khashoggi, a veteran journalist and an analyst who is linked to the royal family.
"Of course officially it is a peaceful project", but the nuclear know-how could also be used to develop weapons, he said.
In March, Prince Turki al-Faisal, the kingdom's former intelligence chief, told the BBC that whatever Iran is given under a deal with world powers, Saudi Arabia and others will want as well, potentially sparking a regional nuclear race.
Under a framework pact agreed in April, Iran will reduce the number of its nuclear centrifuges for enriching uranium, in return for a lifting of international economic sanctions.
Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful but if Saudi Arabia feels the Iranians are continuing their quest for a nuclear weapon, Riyadh will have "no option" but to pursue its own deterrent policy, Khashoggi said.
Riyadh has both "the will and the ability" to produce nuclear weapons, Saudi analyst Nawaf Obaid, a visiting fellow at Harvard University's Belfer Center, wrote on CNN.Com last week.
But a Saudi official told AFP the kingdom "won't take the risk" of seeking an atomic bomb.
He said Iran's policy of "interfering" in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon poses danger, regardless of the weapons it possesses.
