Trump Says Saudi ‘Civil Nuclear Deal’ Hinges On Kingdom Recognizing Israel
The newly announced nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia is contingent on the kingdom recognizing Israel and prohibits it from enriching uranium, President Donald Trump said Thursday, his first public comments on the deal unveiled this week.
Trump said the “civil nuclear deal . . . will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump’s characterization of the deal—which has been viewed by multiple outlets but has not been made public—contradicts multiple reports earlier this week that it would not include a requirement that Saudi Arabia recognize Israel.
Multiple outlets also reported the agreement, signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Wednesday, would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium—according to Associated Press" href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-saudi-arabia-nuclear-program-uranium-6bb82164c890a7dc335cbfc2c628a3da" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">the Associated Press, citing two unnamed sources familiar with the agreement, the uranium enrichment capability would follow a joint study between Saudi Arabia and the U.S.
The Associated Press also reported the deal could allow for an enrichment uranium facility to be built in Saudi Arabia, pending a joint U.S.-Saudi study, according to two unnamed sources cited by the AP.
Trump said in his Truth Social post Thursday, the U.S. “is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.”
Under the reported terms of the agreement, Saudi Arabia would be allowed to enrich its own fuel for nuclear reactors, using U.S. companies to supply the reactors.
The deal reportedly does not include some of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s more stringent nuclear inspection protocols, like the ones the United Arab Emirates are subject to under a similar agreement. The UAE also agreed not to produce its own nuclear fuel.
The agreement is widely considered a win for Saudi Arabia, which has been angling for a deal for years, dating back to the first Trump administration. The agreement, which lasts 30 years, has raised fears it could facilitate a path to Saudi Arabia obtaining a nuclear weapon—something Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has warned the kingdom will pursue if Iran also does. The deal comes as Trump’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia has been strained by the Iran war. Iran has launched attacks on Saudi Arabia since the start of the war with the U.S., and Saudi Arabia was among several Gulf states that said the U.S. could not launch attacks on Iran from its bases in those countries.
Congress has 90 in-session days to approve the agreement. It’s all but certain to pass, as it requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate to override.
Trump Gives Saudis Concessions In Tentative Nuclear Deal—As Family Business Is Increasingly Tied To Kingdom (Forbes)