Saudi Arabia has reportedly asked the US to help it develop its civilian nuclear programme, raising fears it may seek to develop a nuclear weapon and accelerate an arms race with Iran.

Officials in the kingdom want US support to enrich uranium and develop their own fuel production system, while Washington is in return seeking normalisation with Israel, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Saudi Arabia’s economy is very dependent on oil and it would like to add nuclear to its energy mix. It is also deeply concerned by nuclear regional rival Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

The conservative country has intensified security ties with Israel in recent years with an eye to confronting Iran and believes there is growing potential for business deals as it tries to move away from oil.

However, it stopped short of signing up to the so-called Abraham Accords — negotiated under Donald Trump — that its Emirati neighbours have joined.

Nuclear talks between the US and Iran have been dormant since protests began in Iran in September.

One possibility under discussion, according to the WSJ, is making Saudi Arabia a major non-Nato ally, a special status given to Israel, Qatar, Jordan and other US allies.

The move would give Saudi easier access to American weaponry.

Such a deal would be a diplomatic victory for President Joe Biden as it would accelerate American efforts to create a regional alliance to counter Iran. However, the requests will be hard to sell to the US.