U.S. President Donald Trump has approved a landmark nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could allow the kingdom to develop uranium enrichment capabilities for its civilian nuclear program, according to two sources familiar with the decision.
The agreement, which has not yet been officially announced, is expected to be made public as early as Wednesday. According to the sources, the 30-year deal will involve U.S. companies in developing Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear sector and could pave the way for the construction of a uranium enrichment facility following a joint U.S.-Saudi feasibility study.
The agreement is expected to be submitted to the U.S. Congress for review, where it may face opposition from lawmakers concerned that allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium could fuel nuclear proliferation and trigger a new regional arms race.
Saudi Arabia is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which oversees the peaceful use of nuclear technology. However, according to one of the sources, the agreement is not expected to include the IAEA’s Additional Protocol, a safeguard that permits expanded inspections and monitoring of nuclear activities.
The deal comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and ongoing military operations involving the United States and Israel against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. While Washington and its allies argue that Iran’s uranium enrichment program could lead to the development of nuclear weapons, Tehran continues to insist its program is intended solely for peaceful purposes.
Neither the White House nor Saudi officials immediately commented on the reported agreement.
Both the Trump and Biden administrations have pursued nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia, but the possibility of allowing uranium enrichment has long been one of the most controversial aspects of negotiations.
Nonproliferation experts have warned that while uranium enrichment alone does not produce nuclear weapons, it provides countries with the technical capability that could eventually support a weapons program if additional technologies are developed.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that the kingdom would seek nuclear weapons if Iran were to acquire one.
The issue has gained further attention following reports of closer defense cooperation between Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan. Although enrichment is only one step in the nuclear fuel cycle, critics argue that expanding such capabilities in the region could significantly increase proliferation risks.
By contrast, the United Arab Emirates signed a civilian nuclear agreement with the United States without pursuing domestic uranium enrichment, a model that has often been described by nonproliferation experts as the international “gold standard.”
