US Secretary of State Rubio Defers Comment on Reported Saudi Civil Nuclear Deal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was questioned on Wednesday during a press conference in the Philippines about reports that the United States approved a civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia. Rubio gave a hesitant response, directing the media to seek official statements from the White House and refrained from providing explicit comments on the matter. He said, "I will let senior White House officials release an official statement on anything related to this. Talk to them." He added that he had seen the reports but preferred that any announcements come through official channels when there is something to say.

The reports, first published by The Wall Street Journal overnight, stated that President Donald Trump had officially approved a historic agreement with Saudi Arabia allowing the kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear program and enrich uranium on its soil. The deal reportedly received Trump's approval late last week and was expected to be signed imminently. The agreement is set to last 30 years and is valued at tens of billions of dollars.

US administration sources indicated the deal aims to give American companies a central role in building Saudi Arabia's nuclear infrastructure while limiting foreign competitors. A key provision would permit US firms to establish a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia, contingent on joint US-Saudi assessments confirming the necessity of such a step. Officials emphasized that the agreement is designed to ensure US influence over Saudi nuclear activities and prevent the misuse of nuclear materials for military purposes.

Separately, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned that the deal could ultimately lead to Saudi Arabia acquiring nuclear weapons, underscoring regional security concerns.