How Trump’s new condition threw US-Saudi Nuclear Deal into uncertainty within 24 hours
Saudi Arabia was reportedly caught off guard after President Trump tied the civilian nuclear agreement to joining the Abraham Accords.
Washington: A landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia, signed after years of negotiations, was thrown into uncertainty less than a day later after US President Donald Trump unexpectedly linked the deal to Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Abraham Accords.
The agreement, formally signed on Wednesday at the US Department of Energy headquarters in Washington, marked the culmination of more than two decades of negotiations aimed at expanding peaceful nuclear cooperation between the two allies. The ceremony featured US Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Washington and his Saudi counterpart joining virtually from Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia secured several of its long-standing demands under the accord, including provisions related to the development of its civilian nuclear programme. However, the optimism surrounding the deal quickly faded after President Trump announced on Thursday that the agreement would only move forward if Saudi Arabia agreed to normalize relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump also rejected reports suggesting the agreement would permit Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium independently, contradicting widespread interpretations of the deal’s reported provisions.
White House and Energy Department at Odds
According to sources familiar with the matter, President Trump was displeased that the agreement had been publicly announced before receiving his explicit approval. The situation reportedly worsened after conservative media outlets and nuclear policy experts criticized the deal, questioning why it had been concluded without securing Saudi-Israeli normalization.
Reports indicate that several administration officials were surprised by Trump’s new condition, including members of the US negotiating team, who had not expected the Abraham Accords to become a formal prerequisite after the agreement had already been signed.
White House officials reportedly blamed the Department of Energy for proceeding with the signing ceremony despite requests to delay the public announcement until all political issues had been resolved.
Conflicting Statements From Washington
The White House maintained that Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Abraham Accords had always been part of President Trump’s broader Middle East strategy.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the civilian nuclear agreement was always intended to support regional peace through Saudi Arabia’s eventual normalization with Israel.
However, the Department of Energy strongly rejected suggestions that it had acted independently.
Department spokesperson Ben Dietderich described reports of internal disagreement as “false,” insisting the negotiations and public announcement had been closely coordinated with both the White House and the State Department.
Saudi Arabia Reportedly Caught Off Guard
Sources familiar with the matter said Saudi officials were surprised by Trump’s announcement, as the agreement they signed reportedly contained no requirement to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.
For Riyadh, the accord represented a significant diplomatic achievement, potentially allowing uranium enrichment on Saudi soil under specified conditions while modifying inspection arrangements involving the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Saudi Arabia has not publicly commented on Trump’s latest remarks.
Years of Negotiations
The agreement represents the latest chapter in a civilian nuclear partnership first proposed nearly 20 years ago.
Negotiations accelerated during the Trump administration, leading to a tentative understanding reached in October last year. The administration later submitted a waiver request to Congress because the agreement did not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the IAEA’s Additional Protocol, an enhanced inspection framework designed to strengthen nuclear safeguards.
The deal remained on hold for several months amid concerns over regional tensions, including the conflict involving Iran, and uncertainty about congressional approval.
Officials at the Department of Energy believed they had received President Trump’s authorization to proceed with the signing last week, prompting preparations for the formal announcement.
Experts Raise Non-Proliferation Concerns
The agreement has drawn criticism from nuclear non-proliferation experts, who argue that permitting uranium enrichment without requiring stronger international safeguards could increase proliferation risks.
Supporters, however, contend that a US-Saudi nuclear partnership would strengthen Washington’s strategic influence in the Gulf while preventing Saudi Arabia from seeking similar cooperation with China or Russia.
Despite the controversy, the Department of Energy has maintained that the agreement upholds high standards of nuclear safety and non-proliferation while advancing long-term commercial and strategic interests between Washington and Riyadh.
Source: CNN