Trump Conditions Saudi Civil Nuclear Deal on Joining Abraham Accords

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia is contingent upon Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords. Trump stated that the deal, negotiated between the U.S. Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia, focuses solely on non-military nuclear use, similar to agreements with Iran and the UAE, and will only be approved if Saudi Arabia commits to the Abraham Accords. He emphasized that the U.S. does not oppose civilian nuclear facilities without enrichment.

Shortly after, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the joint U.S.-Israel efforts against Iran, calling Saudi Arabia's potential accession to the Abraham Accords a historic leap toward Middle East peace. Trump’s statement appears aimed at easing domestic and international opposition to the nuclear deal, signaling that the condition previously insisted on by former President Biden remains part of the agreement, which still requires Congressional approval.

However, no timeline or progress milestones have been provided, and it remains unclear if Trump will enforce the normalization condition or if Saudi Arabia will agree, as Riyadh has so far demanded Israeli commitments toward a Palestinian state in exchange for normalization. Diplomatic talks between Israel and the White House preceded Trump’s announcement, clarifying that no uranium enrichment would occur and that Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords.

Trump also addressed recent missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saudi oil tankers, warning that the U.S. will hold Iran responsible for any future attacks and impose severe military consequences. The nuclear deal, signed by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, allows American companies to help develop Saudi civilian nuclear infrastructure but lacks the stringent international oversight typical of similar agreements, as the monitoring agreement was signed only with the U.S., not the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Negotiations on Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear program have spanned years, with Biden’s administration initially conditioning assistance on normalization with Israel. Trump’s administration removed this condition, finalizing a draft agreement in October 2025, though final signing was delayed due to regional tensions and Congressional concerns. Past Saudi demands for normalization included Israeli commitments to a Palestinian state pathway, which Israel rejected. In 2024, talks involving Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman proposed Saudi management of Gaza and a five-to-seven-year timeline for Palestinian statehood as part of a peace framework, but these plans have yet to materialize.