President Trump announced Thursday that the civilian nuclear agreement the United States signed with Saudi Arabia explicitly prohibits uranium enrichment and remains contingent on the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel.
The claim addresses the two primary objections critics have raised about the deal: concerns that it could pave the way for enrichment capabilities, and allegations that Washington surrendered negotiating leverage needed to push Saudi Arabia toward Israeli peace.
Trump posted on Truth Social that the Civil Nuclear Deal with the Energy Department "will have no enrichment of material" and pertains only to non-military applications like those already operating in Iran and the UAE. He added that approval hinges on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed the agreement Wednesday in Washington following more than a year of negotiations. The deal allows American companies to assist Saudi Arabia in developing its civilian nuclear infrastructure.
However, the Wall Street Journal reported that the agreement includes a joint U.S.-Saudi study examining the possibility of uranium enrichment in the future. The accord also does not require Saudi Arabia to sign a separate protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency that would permit surprise UN inspections.
The Energy Department framed the safeguards differently, saying the agreement contains a bilateral U.S.-Saudi "safeguards agreement" designed to ensure the program remains peaceful. "Rest assured, these agreements uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation," Wright said.
The nuclear talks originated during the Biden administration as part of a larger package that included a U.S.-Saudi defense treaty and was supposed to require Saudi normalization with Israel. The current agreement was signed independently from any Israeli peace deal, with no indication that the two are formally linked in its text.
This separation has drawn criticism from those who argue Trump surrendered crucial leverage to compel Saudi Arabia toward recognizing Israel. Saudi officials themselves have stated they will not move toward normalization without Israel committing to what they describe as an "irreversible and time-bound path" toward Palestinian statehood.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's framing glosses over the enrichment study buried in the fine print, and calling the deal contingent on Israel normalization rings hollow when it's already been signed separately."
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