Trump Reverses Saudi Nuclear Deal Over Normalization Clause Amid Internal U.S. Disputes

The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a civilian nuclear agreement on July 22, 2026, at the U.S. Department of Energy headquarters in Washington. However, less than 24 hours later, President Donald Trump reversed the deal, demanding that Saudi Arabia first normalize relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords. This sudden condition surprised not only the Saudis but also the American negotiating team.

According to sources cited by CNN, Trump was furious that Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced the deal publicly without his prior approval. The president's anger intensified after conservative U.S. media outlets criticized the agreement for lacking a normalization clause, a condition that former President Joe Biden had insisted upon. Trump announced his new requirement on social media, denying that the original deal allowed Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its soil.

The internal U.S. administration dispute included accusations from the White House blaming the Energy Department for proceeding with the announcement against instructions, while the Energy Department denied these claims, calling them "fake news" and asserting close coordination with the White House and State Department. Experts expressed concerns about the deal's provisions for uranium enrichment and limited International Atomic Energy Agency oversight.

There were also reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu influenced Trump's shift to demand normalization with Israel as a prerequisite. Israeli sources said Netanyahu sought to include this clause, but the White House denied any direct communication between Trump and Netanyahu before the announcement, stating the president was reiterating his longstanding position on Riyadh-Jerusalem relations.

The original deal, years in the making, was seen by Saudi Arabia as a significant achievement since it did not require normalization and allowed uranium enrichment under certain conditions. The reversal and added condition have complicated the agreement's prospects and highlighted internal U.S. government tensions and regional diplomatic sensitivities.