President Donald (R-FL) Trump said a civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia is conditional on the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel [1, 2].
This move links critical energy infrastructure and non-proliferation agreements to a major geopolitical shift in the Middle East. By making the pact contingent on diplomatic ties, the U.S. is using nuclear cooperation as leverage to expand the Abraham Accords.
The statement followed the signing of the agreement in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday afternoon [1]. Trump said his comments on Thursday, less than 24 hours after the deal was signed [1].
Trump said the Saudi nuclear deal is "totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords" [1]. He said the agreement will require Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel [2].
Beyond the diplomatic requirements, the president addressed the technical limits of the pact. In a post on social media, Trump said the deal does not allow for the enrichment of uranium [3]. This restriction is a key component of the agreement to ensure the program remains civilian in nature [3].
Trump said the deal is meant to ensure regional stability [4]. The requirement for normalization aims to integrate Saudi Arabia into a broader framework of peace, and cooperation between Israel and several Arab nations [4].
“The Saudi nuclear deal is 'totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.'”
This development signals a strategic shift where the U.S. treats nuclear technology transfers as diplomatic currency. By prohibiting uranium enrichment, the U.S. seeks to prevent a nuclear arms race in the Middle East while simultaneously pressuring Riyadh to break long-standing diplomatic barriers with Israel to secure its energy future.
