WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a proposed civilian nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia will move forward only if Riyadh joins the Abraham Accords and establishes diplomatic relations with Israel.
The announcement adds a major diplomatic condition to the landmark nuclear cooperation agreement unveiled a day earlier. The proposed deal, which still requires approval from the US Congress before taking effect, is intended to support Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear energy programme.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the agreement was strictly for peaceful, non-military purposes and stated that it would not allow uranium enrichment. However, Reuters reported that the text of the agreement announced on Wednesday would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium and build nuclear reactors using US technology, highlighting a discrepancy between Trump’s latest remarks and details previously disclosed about the pact.
Congress Yet to Review Agreement
The proposed agreement will be submitted to the US Congress for review under the US Atomic Energy Act before it can enter into force.
The pact is designed to allow American companies to help Saudi Arabia develop civilian nuclear infrastructure, including reactors, technical expertise and related technologies, as the kingdom seeks to diversify its energy sources beyond oil.
Saudi Position on Israel Remains Unchanged
Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained that it will not establish formal diplomatic relations with Israel unless there is credible progress towards the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Riyadh has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest statement linking the nuclear agreement to the Abraham Accords.
Israel Raises Concerns
The proposed nuclear cooperation agreement has also drawn concern in Israel, where officials and security analysts have warned that expanding Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear capabilities could alter the regional strategic balance and raise long-term proliferation risks.
What Are the Abraham Accords?
The Abraham Accords were brokered by the United States in 2020 during Trump’s first presidential term.
Under the agreements, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan established diplomatic relations with Israel.
Saudi Arabia has so far stayed out of the accords, maintaining that any future normalisation with Israel depends on meaningful progress toward resolving the Palestinian issue.
Also Read: Iran Declares US Agreement Has No Ambiguity as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate
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