Trump Blocks US-Saudi Civil Nuclear Deal Over Israel Normalization Demand

The US-Saudi civil nuclear agreement signed on Wednesday quickly stalled within 24 hours. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart signed a bilateral deal granting Riyadh most of its demands, including uranium enrichment rights on Saudi soil and limited UN oversight. However, by Thursday morning, President Donald Trump halted the agreement, stating he would not approve it without full normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Sources told CNN that the White House was furious the Energy Department announced the deal without final presidential approval. The backlash intensified after conservative media outlets, including Fox News and the Wall Street Journal editorial board, criticized the Trump administration for offering Saudi Arabia a nuclear program without requiring adherence to the Abraham Accords, a condition previously emphasized by the Biden administration.

Trump’s new condition, publicized shortly after a Fox News discussion, surprised both the US negotiating team and Saudi officials. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated he will not normalize ties with Israel without a path to a Palestinian state. The White House sought to downplay the dispute, with spokesman Taylor Rogers affirming the president’s energy team was fully coordinated and that the deal depends on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. Meanwhile, the Energy Department denied any disagreement, claiming close coordination.

Speculation arose that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intervened to block the deal, but the White House denied any conversation on the matter, emphasizing it was the president’s consistent position. The agreement remains stalled, with required approval letters to Congress yet to be sent.