The Trump administration has approved a landmark civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, paving the way for American companies to help build the kingdom’s nuclear energy industry and opening the door to future Saudi uranium enrichment under U.S. oversight.
The 30-year agreement, known as a “123 agreement” under the Atomic Energy Act, was signed Wednesday by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. It is expected to provide billions of dollars in business for the U.S. nuclear industry while deepening Washington’s strategic relationship with Riyadh.
Agreement leaves door open to uranium enrichment
Unlike previous U.S. nuclear agreements with Middle Eastern partners, the new 30-year deal with Saudi Arabia does not permanently bar the kingdom from enriching uranium on its own soil.
The 2009 agreement with the United Arab Emirates, often described as the “gold standard” for civilian nuclear cooperation, included a permanent prohibition on domestic enrichment. The Saudi deal stops short of that.
Instead, it authorizes a joint feasibility study examining whether uranium enrichment could eventually take place inside the kingdom under a U.S.-monitored framework intended to prevent nuclear material from being diverted for military use. American officials say any future enrichment program would still require additional approvals and remain subject to extensive oversight.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that “there will be no enrichment of material” and described the agreement as contingent on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.
The text of the deal, however, leaves open the possibility that domestic enrichment could be approved in the future.
That omission has drawn criticism from nonproliferation experts and lawmakers who warn that allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium could encourage other Middle Eastern countries to seek similar capabilities and increase the risk of a regional nuclear arms race.
Saudi officials have long maintained that the kingdom’s nuclear ambitions are peaceful. Riyadh says it wants civilian nuclear power to diversify its energy sector and reduce the amount of oil consumed domestically.
Break from Biden administration’s approach
The agreement also marks a significant shift from the Biden administration’s strategy.
Biden officials had sought to tie any U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation to a broader diplomatic package that included Saudi recognition of Israel. The Trump administration removed that condition, allowing the nuclear deal to proceed independently.
Administration officials argue the agreement will strengthen U.S. influence in the region while ensuring American companies — not Chinese or Russian competitors — play the leading role in developing Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear infrastructure.
Critics warn of proliferation risks
The agreement immediately drew scrutiny from lawmakers and nonproliferation experts concerned that allowing Saudi Arabia to pursue uranium enrichment could increase the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
Critics note that uranium enrichment technology can produce fuel for civilian reactors but can also be adapted to produce material for nuclear weapons if enriched to much higher levels.
Some lawmakers have also raised concerns that the agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which provides inspectors with broader authority to verify that nuclear programs remain exclusively peaceful.
Congress to review agreement
The agreement will now be submitted to Congress for review under the Atomic Energy Act.
Unless lawmakers vote to block it within the statutory review period, the pact will take effect, allowing U.S. companies such as Westinghouse Electric to compete for contracts to construct Saudi nuclear reactors and related infrastructure.
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