Trump Submits Saudi Nuclear Deal to Congress for Review
President Donald Trump submitted a 30-year civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress, conditioning its finalization on Saudi normalization of relations with Israel.
Donald Trump submitted a classified 30-year civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress on August 25, 2026. The Section 123 agreement, signed in July by U.S. Energy Secretary Christopher Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, establishes a legal framework for U.S. companies to export civilian nuclear technology and construct AP1000 reactors in the kingdom.
The administration has conditioned the implementation of the pact on Saudi Arabia normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords. This requirement has created a diplomatic impasse, as Saudi Arabia demands an irreversible path to a Palestinian state before recognizing Israel, a condition Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected.
Congress has 90 session days to review the agreement under the Atomic Energy Act. While supporters argue the deal strengthens ties with Riyadh and boosts the American nuclear industry, Democratic lawmakers and arms-control advocates have raised concerns. Critics, including Senators Edward J. Markey and Jeff Merkley, argue the agreement could trigger a Middle East nuclear arms race if it allows Saudi Arabia to develop domestic uranium-enrichment and fuel-reprocessing capabilities.
