Trump Approves 30-Year Nuclear Deal With Saudi Arabia

Donald Trump approved a landmark 30-year civil nuclear agreement, known as a 123 Agreement, with Saudi Arabia to develop the kingdom's nuclear infrastructure. The deal, which may be publicly announced as early as Wednesday, July 23, 2026, involves the participation of American companies and is valued at tens of billions of dollars. A central component of the pact is the potential construction of a uranium enrichment facility on Saudi soil following a joint U.S.-Saudi economic study.

The agreement will be submitted to Congress for a 90-day review period. Notably, the deal omits the Gold Standard of nonproliferation, which prohibits uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, and excludes the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol. This exclusion may restrict inspectors' access to certain sites and limit the rigor of monitoring for clandestine weapons programs.

Nonproliferation experts and Israeli officials warn that domestic enrichment capabilities could enable a Saudi weapons program. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously suggested the kingdom would pursue an atomic bomb if Iran acquired one. This deal arrives as the U.S. and Israel continue military actions to destroy Iran's nuclear infrastructure and as Pakistan suggests its own nuclear program could be available to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defense pact. U.S. Energy Secretary Alfie Moon maintains that the agreement upholds robust nonproliferation standards.