Trump conditions U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal on Israel recognition, throws agreement into doubt

On July 23, 2026, President Donald Trump cast doubt on a newly signed U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation agreement by saying it would take effect only if Saudi Arabia joined the Abraham Accords and normalized relations with Israel. The agreement would give U.S. companies priority access to Saudi Arabia's nuclear market and is expected to run for 30 years. Trump also said there would be no uranium enrichment, although this appeared to conflict with descriptions of the signed agreement, which allows enrichment and includes a two-year feasibility study. The agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the IAEA Additional Protocol for snap inspections and has drawn criticism over proliferation risks. The administration said it would submit the pact to Congress, which would then have 90 session days to review it.

U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement

• ▪U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement on July 22, 2026.
• ▪The civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia is expected to last 30 years.
• ▪The civilian nuclear cooperation agreement would give United States companies priority access to supply nuclear reactors and fuel to Saudi Arabia.

Abraham Accords normalization requirement

• ▪White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on July 23, 2026, that the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal is off if Saudi Arabia does not join the Abraham Accords.
• ▪Saudi Arabia has long refused to establish diplomatic relations with Israel without a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood.
• ▪President Donald Trump declared on July 23, 2026, that the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal is contingent on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing relations with Israel.

Saudi energy diversification goals

• ▪Saudi Arabia seeks to develop nuclear energy to fuel domestic economic transformation, including data centers and desalination, while preserving crude oil for export.
• ▪Former U.S. State Department official Daniel Benaim told NPR that Saudi Arabia burns up to 1.4 million barrels of crude oil per day at the height of the summer to meet domestic energy demand.

Israeli nuclear proliferation concerns

• ▪Israeli opposition leaders Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman criticized the U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement, warning it could trigger a Middle East nuclear arms race.
• ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, calling it a historic leap forward for peace.

Uranium enrichment provisions

• ▪The U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to sign the International Atomic Energy Agency's additional protocol for snap inspections.
• ▪The nuclear agreement includes a joint U.S.-Saudi study on possible future uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia.
• ▪President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that the nuclear deal would not include uranium enrichment, although Reuters reported that this appeared to conflict with the signed agreement, which allows enrichment and provides for a two-year feasibility study.

Congressional review process

• ▪Blocking the U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement in Congress requires a two-thirds majority to override a potential presidential veto.
• ▪The Trump administration said it would submit the U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement to Congress, which would then have 90 session days to review and potentially block it.