US President Donald Trump said Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords before Washington approves a proposed civil nuclear agreement. He also said the deal would prohibit uranium enrichment and remain limited to peaceful purposes. The condition could influence future US-Saudi relations and regional diplomacy.
In a statement on social media, Trump said the agreement between the US Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia would not permit uranium enrichment. He said the programme would be restricted to civilian and non-military uses. Trump described it as similar to peaceful nuclear programmes in other countries.
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According to Trump, approval of the agreement depends on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. He said the normalization framework remains a fundamental condition for the deal. The accords were launched during his first administration to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab states.
Meanwhile, reports said the proposed agreement would require approval from the US Congress before taking effect. The deal is expected to run for 30 years and involve investments worth billions of dollars. Previous US administrations also explored a similar agreement with Riyadh.
Additionally, Israeli opposition figures criticised the proposed agreement, warning it could encourage a regional nuclear arms race. Former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman argued that civilian nuclear programmes could eventually lead to military capabilities. Israeli officials have raised concerns about uranium enrichment on Saudi territory.
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The proposed agreement has also revived debate over Saudi Arabia’s normalization with Israel. Therefore, the outcome may affect regional security, diplomatic relations and future US policy in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has not publicly accepted normalization as a condition for the agreement.
The Abraham Accords were signed in 2020 to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab countries. The framework expanded diplomatic, economic and security cooperation across the region. Saudi Arabia has not formally joined the agreement.