Once Sauron had the Ring, I don't think he would have felt Saruman to be threat to him, despite knowing of his ambitions to be a Ring-bearer himself. We are told, after all, that Frodo would be kept alive and punished by viewing in anguish Sauron holding the Ring. He might also have found Saruman useful (since the Nazgul had their limitations), and perhaps enjoyed having another subverted Maia at his beck and call. The Mouth of Sauron's comments later on followed Saruman's failure and fall, and may not have been the original plan.
|