The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement that could eventually allow Riyadh to enrich uranium, pending congressional approval and finalisation of implementation details. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman formally signed the US Saudi nuclear deal on Wednesday.
What the Agreement Includes
The deal consists of an accord under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, commonly known as a “123 agreement,” alongside an accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement, according to the US Energy Department. “These agreements reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening US-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad,” Wright said in a statement.
The US administration has released limited details of the deal, but the framework is expected to pave the way for a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, following a joint US-Saudi feasibility study, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorised to speak publicly. The agreement reportedly does not include the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which provides enhanced international inspections and monitoring of nuclear activities. It is expected to remain in force for 30 years.
Conflicting Signals on Enrichment
Reporting on the enrichment question has not been entirely consistent. Wright told Fox News in a separate interview that the deal was strictly about civilian nuclear power generation, saying it was “not about enrichment” and “not about anything related to weapons,” but rather about producing secure, reliable, affordable electricity through the construction of a large nuclear power plant in Saudi Arabia.
However, multiple other reports, including from NBC News and the Associated Press, indicate the agreement would allow US companies to build a uranium enrichment facility in the kingdom pending the joint feasibility study. The Energy Department’s own public statement did not directly address the enrichment question, and Al Jazeera reported that if enrichment reports are confirmed, the deal is likely to face opposition in Washington.
Nonproliferation Concerns
Nonproliferation experts have long warned that any enrichment capability within Saudi Arabia could open a pathway toward weapons development, echoing similar Western concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme. Enrichment alone does not guarantee a country can build a weapon, since other technical steps are also required, but arms control groups say it does open that door.
By contrast, the United Arab Emirates, a Saudi neighbour, signed its own 123 agreement with the US to build its Barakah nuclear power plant using South Korean assistance, but did so without seeking enrichment capability, a model nonproliferation experts have described as the “gold standard” for countries pursuing civilian nuclear power.
Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at the London-based think tank Chatham House, said the details of implementation will ultimately determine the deal’s significance. If Saudi Arabia does retain the right to enrich uranium domestically, she said, that issue will remain central to how the agreement is assessed going forward.
Congressional Review Ahead
Congress will be required to vote on the agreement, though lawmakers would need a veto-proof majority to actually block it. The deal has been years in the making, with both the Trump and Biden administrations having pursued nuclear cooperation talks with Riyadh. The Wall Street Journal first reported that Trump had formally approved the deal the week before it was signed.
The agreement also comes as the Trump administration continues pressuring Iran to abandon its enriched uranium stockpiles and curb its nuclear programme, and follows recent military confrontations in the region involving the US, Israel and Iran.
An earlier condition floated by the US, that Saudi Arabia normalise relations with Israel as part of any enrichment-enabling deal, appears to have been set aside for now, since Saudi leaders have said normalisation is not possible without meaningful progress toward Palestinian statehood.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy said the agreement supports the kingdom’s strategy to diversify its energy sources, advance modern technology, and expand investment and cooperation with the United States.
