Trump Conditions Saudi Nuclear Deal on Israel Normalization
President Donald Trump signed a 30-year nuclear cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia but later conditioned its implementation on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords to recognize Israel.
On July 22, 2026, Donald Trump approved a landmark 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, known as a 123 Agreement, with Saudi Arabia. Signed by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the multi-billion-dollar pact allows American firms, including Westinghouse Electric Company, to develop Saudi Arabia's nuclear infrastructure to support the kingdom's Vision 2030 economic diversification.
The deal sparked immediate controversy for omitting the gold standard of nonproliferation—the prohibition of uranium enrichment—and the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol for intrusive inspections. While the administration initially framed the pact as a strategic move to block Russian and Chinese influence, critics and Israeli officials warned it could trigger a regional nuclear arms race, noting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's previous statements that Saudi Arabia would seek nuclear weapons if Iran acquired them.
Following political backlash, Trump unilaterally added a condition on July 23, stating the deal is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords to normalize relations with Israel. He further claimed there would be no enrichment of material, contradicting reports that the signed text allowed for a viability study on domestic enrichment. This condition has placed the deal in diplomatic limbo, as Saudi Arabia maintains that normalization requires a path toward Palestinian statehood. The agreement now awaits a 90-day review by the U.S. Congress, occurring amid an ongoing U.S.-led military campaign against Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
