For years, Iran's and Saudi Arabia's nuclear ambitions have gained much international attention. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, "Although Saudi Arabia does not possess weapons of mass destruction, Saudi officials have hinted at the desirability of possessing nuclear weapons to counter the nuclear ambitions of rival regional Iran." In 2015, Iran concluded an agreement restricting its nuclear program in exchange for sanction relief. Saudi Arabia felt threatened by this deal, fearing that the easing of sanctions would allow Iran to further support Shia groups in the Middle East. In 2018, the U.S. withdrew from the deal.