Trump to Announce Saudi Nuclear Deal, Potentially Allowing 30-Year Uranium Enrichment Pact
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 22
Trump to Announce Saudi Nuclear Deal, Potentially Allowing 30-Year Uranium Enrichment Pact
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 22
Summary
Wednesday’s planned announcement would unveil a broad U.S.-Saudi nuclear accord that could let the kingdom eventually enrich uranium or reprocess plutonium for civilian reactors after a joint economic study.
U.S. officials say the deal is meant to tighten ties with Riyadh as war with Iran strains the relationship, while steering billions of dollars in business to the U.S. nuclear industry, starting with Westinghouse.
Congress will review the agreement under the Atomic Energy Act, but blocking it would require a veto-proof majority, making approval likely despite bipartisan concern.
Opposition is expected from some U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials, who fear Saudi Arabia could use civilian nuclear capacity as a pathway to weapons, especially if inspection access is limited.
The accord revives talks that had dragged on for years and were once tied to Saudi recognition of Israel, a condition Trump dropped after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
In November 2025, the Trump administration finalized a 30-year nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, now under immediate Congressional review. The deal has sparked intense debate because Saudi Arabia does not follow the highest nonproliferation standards, specifically the IAEA Additional Protocol, which is meant to help inspectors detect secret nuclear activities. A key concern is that the agreement reportedly allows Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium, raising alarms among nonproliferation advocates and lawmakers about the risk of nuclear weapons development. Congress is now closely examining the deal’s provisions and the administration’s justification for moving forward.