WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the proposed Saudi Nuclear Pact will move forward only if Saudi Arabia agrees to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, adding a new layer of uncertainty to the recently announced agreement.
Trump made the remarks a day after the United States and Saudi Arabia announced a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement aimed at supporting the kingdom’s long-term energy strategy.
Trump Links Nuclear Deal to Abraham Accords
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that the agreement would be approved but was “totally subject” to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.
The comments came after the U.S. Department of Energy announced the signing of a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement and a bilateral safeguards arrangement intended to support Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear program.
Saudi authorities have not publicly responded to Trump’s statement.
Details of the Saudi Nuclear Pact
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the agreement establishes a long-term partnership focused on peaceful nuclear energy development.
The proposed deal is expected to:
- Support Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear energy program.
- Expand long-term energy cooperation between Washington and Riyadh.
- Require approval from the U.S. Congress before taking effect.
However, full details of the agreement have not yet been released publicly.
Debate Over Uranium Enrichment
Reports in several U.S. media outlets suggested the agreement could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically for civilian nuclear fuel.
Trump appeared to reject those reports, stating:
“There will be no enrichment of material.”
He added that the United States supports civilian nuclear facilities that do not involve uranium enrichment.
The issue remains significant because uranium enrichment can be used for peaceful energy production but, at higher enrichment levels, can also contribute to nuclear weapons development.
Saudi Arabia’s Position
Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained that any normalization of relations with Israel is linked to progress toward a Palestinian state under a two-state solution.
The kingdom has not indicated that it plans to join the Abraham Accords as a condition for the nuclear agreement.
Congressional Approval Still Required
Before the Saudi Nuclear Pact can be implemented, it must receive approval from the U.S. Congress, where lawmakers are expected to closely examine the agreement’s safeguards, nuclear technology provisions, and regional security implications.
Regional Significance
The proposed agreement comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East, with nuclear policy remaining one of the region’s most sensitive geopolitical issues.
Analysts say the future of the Saudi Nuclear Pact could influence energy cooperation, regional diplomacy, and broader U.S. engagement in the Gulf.
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