Trump Submits Saudi Nuclear Deal to Congress, Conditions It on Normalization with Israel

President Donald Trump has formally submitted the landmark nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia to the U.S. Congress, initiating a 90-day review period during which lawmakers will intensely debate the deal. The submission is a legal requirement and advances the agreement toward final approval. Given the president's veto power and the high threshold needed to override it, the likelihood of Congress rejecting the deal is very low.

The agreement, reported by the Wall Street Journal, restricts international inspectors' access to certain Saudi sites that could be used for military nuclear purposes. It also allows for the possibility that Saudi Arabia may enrich uranium or reprocess plutonium after a joint economic feasibility study, raising concerns about potential future nuclear weapons development.

Trump has publicly tied the deal's progress to Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords. A U.S. administration official confirmed the president's stance remains firm that the agreement will only move forward if Riyadh agrees to this condition.

Saudi Arabia's stated goal is to develop a civilian nuclear program based on its existing uranium resources to meet domestic energy needs, enabling it to export more oil and increase revenue. For the United States, the deal secures a central role for American companies in building Saudi Arabia's nuclear infrastructure, excluding foreign competitors.

The agreement represents a significant shift in U.S.-Saudi relations and regional dynamics, with Congress now set to scrutinize its implications amid ongoing geopolitical sensitivities.