Trump Adds Condition to Saudi Nuclear Deal
Qwenews.com – President Donald Trump has introduced an additional requirement to a nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, coming just one day after officially endorsing the arrangement. According to a social media message published Thursday, Riyadh must now become part of the Abraham Accords for the deal to move forward. While the agreement has already been signed, Trump clarified that final approval remains contingent on Saudi Arabia’s participation in what he described as a “very respected and successful” diplomatic framework.
The president also stressed that the arrangement includes a “no enrichment” provision, even though the accord could potentially allow the kingdom to enrich fuel for its civilian nuclear reactors. This clarification came after Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart finalized the agreement on Wednesday, establishing a civilian nuclear program for the Middle Eastern nation.
White House Response and Diplomatic Context
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced Trump’s position Thursday, noting that the president serves as the ultimate decision-maker on the matter. She indicated that the agreement remains suspended until Saudi Arabia normalizes its diplomatic relationship with Israel. Leavitt mentioned that Trump continues discussions with Saudi leadership regarding normalization, though he has not yet contacted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since announcing the new requirement.
“The president just put out this statement a few hours ago. I don’t believe he’s had a call with MBS in the hours since. However, this is something that he has raised in previous conversations and has also said many times in the past,” Leavitt explained.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made clear that he will not pursue normalization with Israel without a definitive pathway toward establishing a Palestinian state.
Deal Details and International Reactions
Trump’s announcement reportedly surprised the administration’s nuclear negotiating team, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation. Under the terms of the agreement, a joint American-Saudi team will evaluate whether uranium enrichment is both commercially feasible and necessary before any enrichment activities commence. Additionally, American contractors will construct the enrichment facility while keeping sensitive technology within U.S. control.
The arrangement also features limitations on inspection procedures for Saudi Arabia’s nuclear program. Notably, the kingdom is exempt from signing the Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency—a requirement that the United Arab Emirates accepted in 2009 when it concluded a “gold standard” nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office welcomed Trump’s latest announcement. “As President Trump has said, Saudi Arabia’s joining of the Abraham Accords would be an historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East,” the statement read.
Historical Precedent and Current Challenges
Diplomatic normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel has traditionally been a prerequisite for Washington’s nuclear cooperation with Riyadh, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. This requirement persisted through the Biden administration, but shifted following Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which made normalization “untenable” for Saudi leaders. Consequently, Biden-era negotiators pursued a “less-for-less” approach to the prospective nuclear arrangement.
Saudi Arabia has historically shown reluctance toward joining the Abraham Accords, an initiative launched during Trump’s first presidential term and broadened during his second to foster diplomatic connections between Israel and neighboring Middle Eastern countries.
It remains uncertain how Trump’s social media announcement will affect the already-signed agreement. CNN has contacted both the Saudi embassy and the White House to determine whether the deal is temporarily paused pending Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the Abraham Accords.
This story has been updated with additional information. Davis Winkie’s work at CNN is supported by a partnership between Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners (JFP). CNN retains full editorial control of the reporting. CNN’s Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
