Trump Approves U.S.–Saudi Nuclear Cooperation Agreement That Could Permit Uranium Enrichment

Jul 22, 2026

President Donald Trump has approved a 30-year civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, allowing uranium enrichment without the IAEA's Additional Protocol or 'gold standard' safeguards. The deal, which lacks normalization terms with Israel, faces potential congressional pushback. Israeli critics like Avigdor Liberman warn it could trigger a regional nuclear arms race, while Ehud Barak views the lack of normalization as a sign of fractured trust between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.

US-Saudi nuclear agreement

▪The nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia lacks the 'gold standard' provision that would bar Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium.
▪The nuclear agreement, known as a 123 Agreement, will be submitted to the United States Congress, triggering a 90-day review period.
▪Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated in 2018 that Saudi Arabia would seek a nuclear weapon if Iran developed one.
▪Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman criticized the nuclear agreement, stating that allowing uranium enrichment on Saudi soil crosses a red line and risks igniting a nuclear arms race across the Middle East.
▪The nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia contains no provisions regarding the normalization of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
▪U.S. President Donald Trump approved a 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to share nuclear power technology.
▪Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak stated that the exclusion of Israel-Saudi normalization from the nuclear pact indicates a loss of trust between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump.
▪The nuclear agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia does not require the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol for enhanced inspections.

Perspective of Israeli Critics

▪Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak stated that the exclusion of Israel-Saudi normalization from the nuclear pact indicates a loss of trust between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump.
▪Former Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman criticized the nuclear agreement, stating that allowing uranium enrichment on Saudi soil crosses a red line and risks igniting a nuclear arms race across the Middle East.