US Signs Historic Civil Nuclear Agreement with Saudi Arabia Allowing Uranium Enrichment

The Trump administration has approved a landmark civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, as reported by the Wall Street Journal citing senior US officials. The deal, expected to last 30 years and valued at tens of billions of dollars, aims to establish a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia and could pave the way for uranium enrichment within the kingdom. A key provision mandates that American companies will build a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia if joint US-Saudi research determines it necessary.

The agreement is designed to give US firms a central role in developing Saudi Arabia's nuclear infrastructure, effectively sidelining foreign competitors. The Trump administration argues that this arrangement will ensure significant US influence over Saudi nuclear activities and help prevent military diversion of nuclear technology. However, the deal is anticipated to face opposition in the US Congress, particularly from lawmakers concerned about nuclear proliferation risks in the Middle East.

The agreement will soon be submitted to Congress for review, but it is unlikely to be blocked since overturning it would require a two-thirds majority in both houses to override a presidential veto. Trump approved the deal last weekend, and it is set to be signed on Wednesday by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. Wright and the Saudi minister previously discussed the agreement details during Wright's first Middle East visit in April 2025.