U.S. and Saudi Arabia Sign Nuclear Deal That Could Let the Kingdom Enrich Uranium

The Trump administration has signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could ultimately allow the kingdom to enrich uranium on its own soil, a landmark deal that critics warn could open a pathway to nuclear weapons for one of the Middle East's most powerful states.

The 30-year accord was signed by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Arabia's energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the White House said. It clears the way for American firms to help build out the kingdom's nuclear program and envisions the possible construction of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, contingent on a joint U.S.-Saudi study. The announcement came alongside approval of a sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets to Riyadh.

What alarmed nonproliferation experts most was what the agreement leaves out. It does not include the so-called "gold standard" provisions that would legally bar Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing spent fuel — the two processes that can be used to produce material for a bomb. Nor does it require the kingdom to accept the enhanced inspections and oversight from the International Atomic Energy Agency that Washington has demanded of other partners.

The timing is striking. Even as it hands Riyadh a potential enrichment capability, the United States is in the middle of an air war aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear program, arguing that Tehran can never be allowed to enrich uranium. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said publicly that if Iran builds a nuclear weapon, the kingdom would move to acquire one too — a statement critics say makes the absence of enrichment restrictions especially dangerous.

On Capitol Hill, the reaction was swift. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts accused the president of "caving to the Saudis" on nonproliferation, and lawmakers from both parties signaled they would scrutinize the terms. Under U.S. law, Congress has 90 days to review the agreement, and opponents can attempt to block it, though overriding a determined administration would require substantial bipartisan support.

Supporters of the deal cast it as a strategic win that binds Saudi Arabia closer to Washington, locks American companies into a lucrative multidecade energy partnership and gives the U.S. a seat at the table as the kingdom builds its nuclear infrastructure. Whether that access is enough to prevent Riyadh from one day pursuing weapons-grade material — or whether the deal simply accelerates a regional arms race — is the question now hanging over Congress as the review clock begins to tick.