Trump Conditions US-Saudi Civil Nuclear Deal on Riyadh Joining Abraham Accords

US President Donald Trump announced that the emerging civil nuclear agreement between the US Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia will only be approved if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations with Israel. Trump emphasized that the agreement strictly concerns civilian nuclear use and explicitly excludes uranium enrichment. He stated on his social media platform Truth Social that the US supports civilian nuclear facilities without uranium enrichment, similar to existing programs in Iran and the UAE, but approval is "entirely contingent" on Saudi Arabia's accession to the Abraham Accords.

The announcement follows the official signing of a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, known as the "123 Agreement," between the US and Saudi Arabia in Washington. The deal was signed by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. The agreement aims to establish a long-term legal framework for cooperation, involving billions of dollars in investments and allowing American companies to lead Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear energy development while adhering to strict safety and non-proliferation standards.

US officials highlighted that the agreement will expand American nuclear technology exports, create thousands of jobs in the US, enhance US energy and national security, and deepen strategic ties with Saudi Arabia. Energy Secretary Wright described the deal as reflecting a shared commitment to economic prosperity and security, part of what he called the "American nuclear renaissance" under President Trump.

Israeli Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar praised Trump's statement, calling it a major achievement for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who he said is leading peace efforts with strength and delivering dramatic results despite limited media coverage.

This development marks a significant shift in US-Saudi relations and ties into broader Middle East normalization efforts under the Abraham Accords framework.