We'll develop nuclear weapons if Iran does: Saudi Arabian crown prince

The crown prince of Saudi Arabia has declared his country will "quickly" obtain a nuclear weapon if Iran also does.

Speaking to US network CBS, Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom would escalate their military capacity if Iran develops the bomb.

"Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible," he said.

The 32-year-old defended calling Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei the "new Hitler" of the Middle East.

"He wants to create his own project in the Middle East very much like Hitler who wanted to expand at the time," the prince said.

"Many countries around the world and in Europe did not realise how dangerous Hitler was until what happened, happened.

"I don't want to see the same events happening in the Middle East."

Iran suspended its nuclear program as part of a deal with the Obama administration in 2015.

But Donald Trump's stated plans to withdraw from the agreement gives Iran the green-light to continue their development of the bomb.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been named the heir apparent to the throne of Saudi Arabia, despite having several older brothers.

As prime minister, he has brought in significant reforms to the kingdom, including restricting the powers of religious police and allowing women to drive.

But the regime is still a deeply oppressive one, and the country remains deeply anti-democratic.

The prince is also behind the arrest of 200 prominent Saudi officials, businessmen and royals.

The mass arrests were described as a crackdown on corruption, but critics view their detention as an attempt from bin Salman to consolidate his power.

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