9/11 Families Aim to Block Saudi Nuclear Deal

Families of victims from the September 11, 2001, attacks are preparing to oppose a U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear energy agreement, viewing it as an opportunity to pressure Riyadh into acknowledging its alleged complicity in the attacks.

The advocates, organized under the banner of 9/11 Families United, aim to use the review process for the deal, which would permit U.S. companies to collaborate with Saudi Arabia on nuclear power projects valued in the billions, as a bargaining chip. Terry Strada, chair of 9/11 Families United, expressed skepticism about Saudi Arabia's intentions, stating, "How do you give a country nuclear weapons that [is] responsible for murdering 3,000 people and they’ve never owned up to it? They’re not trustworthy. They’re not honest brokers."

In parallel, a bipartisan group of senators is urging the White House to release previously undisclosed "side agreements" pertaining to the civilian nuclear cooperation plan, commonly known as a "123 Agreement." Congress has the authority to block such an agreement through a joint resolution of disapproval.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) has indicated his intention to oppose or scrutinize the nuclear pact until outstanding claims by 9/11 families against Saudi Arabia are resolved. "Fifteen of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi nationals," the notes state, referencing a long-standing lawsuit filed by victims' families against the Kingdom for billions in damages, enacted under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act.

President Trump, who previously approved the deal during his administration, stated last week that he would review the release of documents concerning Saudi Arabia's role in the 9/11 attacks, following a speech by Strada at the 25th anniversary commemoration of the attacks. White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales commented that Trump "will always pay tribute to the American heroes we lost" and that he has "authorized the declassification and release of hundreds of pages of documents related to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001."

The Saudi government has consistently denied any involvement in the attacks and asserts that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and operates with transparency. Strada, whose husband Thomas was killed in the attacks, stated that her focus is not on document release but on compelling the Kingdom to cease its denial of responsibility. "Don’t continue covering for them or providing them cover . . . He can be the one that stops that pattern," she said, referring to President Trump.