The Trump administration has approved a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that permits the Middle Eastern kingdom to enrich its own uranium, U.S. officials confirmed. The deal, slated for formal announcement and submission to Congress, will remain in effect through 2056 and is valued in the tens of billions of dollars.
Under the terms of the pact, American companies would be involved in the construction of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, following a joint feasibility study by both nations. U.S. officials stated that American influence is intended to prevent the program from being diverted for military purposes, should both Washington and Riyadh deem such a step necessary.
This development occurs as the U.S. intensifies its efforts against Iran, a rival to Saudi Arabia, with the primary objective of preventing the Islamic republic from obtaining nuclear weapons. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has previously indicated that his country would pursue nuclear capabilities if Iran developed them. In a 2018 interview, he told CBS News, "Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible."
Congress has the ability to block the agreement, but doing so would require a joint resolution with a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate to override a presidential veto.
Israel is expected to oppose the deal, citing concerns about a rival nation possessing nuclear capabilities. Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described the pact as a "grave strategic failure that endangers our security," warning that allowing uranium enrichment on Saudi soil could ignite a regional nuclear arms race and lead to a loss of control.
The Trump administration has stated its intention to allay concerns about a potential nuclear race in the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. would not enter into any agreement that increases the risk of proliferation.
Previous discussions between the Biden administration and Riyadh regarding a nuclear deal had included normalized relations with Israel as a condition, but these talks reportedly ceased after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. While President Trump has encouraged Saudi Arabia and other Islamic nations to join the Abraham Accords, he has not made Saudi Arabia establishing ties with Israel a prerequisite for this nuclear agreement.