The Trump administration has approved an agreement allowing Saudi Arabia to develop uranium enrichment capability for civilian nuclear power, according to multiple reports citing sources briefed on the decision. The deal, which could be announced as early as this week, represents a major shift in US nuclear policy toward one of its closest Middle Eastern allies.
Under the arrangement expected to last 30 years, American firms would help Saudi Arabia establish a uranium enrichment facility following a joint bilateral study. The agreement requires congressional review, where it faces potential resistance from lawmakers concerned about proliferation risks and regional instability.
What distinguishes this deal from similar arrangements is what it reportedly does not include. The agreement is not expected to contain the International Atomic Energy Agency's "additional protocol," which would grant inspectors expanded monitoring and verification powers. Saudi Arabia remains an IAEA member state, but the absence of such enhanced oversight has alarmed non-proliferation experts.
The timing raises eyebrows among observers. The announcement comes as the United States and Israel pursue military pressure against Iran over its nuclear program, which Tehran maintains is for peaceful purposes. The contrast underscores a complicated diplomatic reality: Washington is simultaneously working to constrain one country's nuclear ambitions while enabling another's enrichment capability.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has not explicitly ruled out weaponizing uranium should Iran obtain a nuclear bomb, a statement that adds weight to Western concerns. While enriching uranium alone does not automatically lead to a bomb, experts note it represents a critical step toward weaponization and eliminates a major technical barrier.
Saudi Arabia's defense ties complicate matters further. Last year, Pakistan's defense minister suggested his nation's nuclear arsenal could be made available to the kingdom if needed, a statement widely interpreted as a warning to Israel. Pakistan itself possesses one of the world's largest nuclear arsenals.
Both the Trump and Biden administrations pursued nuclear deals with Saudi Arabia, each seeking to deepen strategic partnerships while managing proliferation concerns. The UAE offers a counterpoint: it signed a similar nuclear agreement with the United States but deliberately declined enrichment capabilities, a choice experts have called the gold standard for nations pursuing nuclear power without weapons potential.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited Saudi Arabia in early 2025 to discuss expanding the kingdom's nuclear power sector, discussions that preceded Trump's own visit to the region. The White House and Saudi officials have not yet commented publicly on the specifics of the arrangement.
Congressional review will determine whether the deal moves forward. Lawmakers must weigh strategic alliance considerations against nuclear proliferation risks, a calculation that will likely dominate debate in the coming weeks.
Author James Rodriguez: "Approving enrichment for any nation without ironclad verification measures is a gamble, especially when the region is already saturated with nuclear-armed powers and hostile relationships."
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