Nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia may allow uranium enrichment: Report

The Trump administration plans to announce that it reached a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially allow it to enrich its own uranium, according to multiple reports.

U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The New York Times that the deal was designed to solidify ties between Washington and the Middle Eastern nation amid the Iran war — while also providing billions of dollars for the U.S. nuclear industry.

According to the Times, the agreement is expected to be announced and signed jointly by the Trump administration with the Saudis as early as Wednesday, and the details will be announced to Congress shortly after.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.

News of the 30-year agreement, known as the “123 Agreement,” was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. It is designed to create a framework for U.S. companies in the nuclear industry to help develop Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear program.

The agreement is expected to be signed by Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, who he discussed the deal with during an overseas trip to the region last year, according to the Journal.

Under the agreement, the kingdom could potentially be permitted to enrich uranium or process plutonium following a joint U.S.-Saudi study on the economics of domestic fuel production, the officials told the Times. The accord also reportedly limits some international inspection requirements in comparison to previous U.S. nuclear cooperation agreements.

The reported agreement marks a departure from the so-called “gold standard” adopted in the 2009 U.S.-United Arab Emirates nuclear accord, under which Abu Dhabi agreed not to enrich uranium and allowed enhanced inspections through the International Atomic Energy Agency.

It also contains two classified side letters that the Trump administration intends to keep private, citing national security and proprietary business concerns, according to the Times.

Congress will have 90 days to review the deal after it is submitted under the Atomic Energy Act. It is likely to pass, unless lawmakers acquire enough votes to override President Trump’s measure.

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