The Trump administration has formally transmitted a proposed nuclear energy deal with Saudi Arabia to Congress, according to an administration official. The agreement, finalized on July 22, allows the U.S. to partner with the Kingdom on developing its civil nuclear energy program.
The deal was sent to Congress on Monday, initiating a 90-day review period by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. However, this review period can be stopped, a practice that has occurred in the past.
Despite the formal submission, the nuclear agreement's progression is still dependent on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. This condition, which was not part of the original agreement, would require Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel. The administration official reiterated on Tuesday that the deal "will only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords."
The agreement was signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. U.S. officials previously indicated that the deal could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically in the future, a prospect that could raise concerns about nuclear weapons proliferation. President Trump, however, has publicly stated that the deal prohibits enrichment, writing on social media last month, "There will be no enrichment of material!"
It remains unclear why the administration chose this moment to officially transmit the agreement to Congress, as Saudi Arabia has not publicly indicated any intention to join the Abraham Accords. The transmission of the agreement was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.