Some countries in the Middle East are pushing forward with plans to build nuclear power plants to counter the nuclear threat from Iran.

The Saudi press has reported that the kingdom is already moving toward its first nuclear power plant, for which plans have already been drawn up.

The US signed nuclear power deals with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates last year.

Many other Middle East countries have also indicated an interest in developing nuclear programs, not necessarily for military purposes, but to keep options open if Iran were to develop a bomb.

One of the few countries in the world that has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Israel, has so far been careful not to take a public stand on civilian nuclear programs in neighbouring states, since that would focus the limelight on Israel's own unique situation, whereby it already has the capability to manufacture nuclear weapons.

But Israeli Defence officials have warned in the past that one potential outcome of Iran having a nuclear weapon would be that other neighbouring countries would want to follow suit.