President Donald Trump has announced that a newly proposed agreement to assist Saudi Arabia with civil nuclear energy development is strictly conditional on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords. The U.S. president emphasized that the deal, which he stated would exclude the enrichment of nuclear materials, will not proceed unless Riyadh formally recognizes the State of Israel.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that this requirement has been communicated to Saudi leadership multiple times, noting that the administration maintains the position that the deal is off if the kingdom does not join the accords. While the official text of the agreement has not been made public, the U.S. Department of Energy described the arrangement as a foundation for a multi-billion-dollar partnership focused on peaceful nuclear cooperation and nonproliferation.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office welcomed the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, describing it as a potential "historic leap forward for peace." Conversely, some experts and political figures have voiced concerns regarding the risks of nuclear proliferation, despite the administration's assurances that the program is intended solely for non-military use.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated it is prepared to work with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to implement necessary verification measures. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has previously maintained that normalization with Israel is dependent on the establishment of a Palestinian state, and the kingdom has not yet issued a formal response to Trump's latest remarks.
Source: BBC News
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