SerpApi.Org
Donald Trump has agreed to a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that could allow the kingdom to enrich its own uranium.
The 30-year agreement, expected to be announced on Wednesday, may pave the way for the kingdom to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian programme, Israeli officials fear.
It would allow US companies to build an enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia if a joint study approves the programme.
The deal further binds the US with the kingdom, and would establish the second Middle East country to openly enrich uranium after Iran.
Mr Trump is set to submit to congress a document known as a 123 agreement, a non-proliferation tool required for all peaceful nuclear co-operation between nations, including technology transfers.
That document was signed by Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, who discussed the agreement with Abdulaziz bin Salman, his Saudi counterpart, during a visit to Saudi Arabia in April 2025. The Saudi minister is also set to approve the deal.
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Trump administration officials believe the pact, which would bring in tens of billions of dollars for US firms, would prevent Riyadh from abusing its civilian programme for military purposes.
However, US politicians on both sides and Israeli officials have objected to the plans, fearing the kingdom could develop nuclear weapons, the New York Times reported.
Saudi Arabia’s cooperation with the US against Tehran has left it more vulnerable to Iranian attacks.
The Islamic Republic has repeatedly hit oil refineries and American military and diplomatic facilities in the kingdom.
Although Riyadh supported military action against Iran, it later pressed Washington to de-escalate, fearing Tehran would retaliate by blockading the Red Sea.
Riyadh also reportedly carried out secret strikes against Iran despite claiming it was not part of the conflict and last week – with Mr Trump’s support – opened a new front in the war by striking an airport in Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis.
The agreement to share nuclear power technology does not include safeguards that would preclude the kingdom from creating nuclear weapons, several US officials told Reuters.
Non-proliferation experts have warned that spinning centrifuges could precipitate a weapons programme – a path that Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, has suggested he could pursue if Iran builds an atomic bomb.
Although enrichment capacity is not the only step towards obtaining weapons, Tehran’s existing capabilities provoked concern in the US and ultimately led the country to launch its war against Iran.
US presidents including Mr Trump have attempted for years to secure an agreement with the kingdom to share American technology.
But this deal is not Saudi Arabia’s first relating to nuclear power. After Israel carried out a deadly strike against a group of Hamas officials during a meeting in Qatar in September 2025, Riyadh signed a mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan.
The country’s defence minister said the nuclear programme “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia if necessary, a move seen as a warning to Israel, the only nation in the Middle East that is suspected to possess nuclear weapons.
Israel had quietly worked with the US on plans to help Saudi Arabia enrich its own uranium under previous plans.
But the new deal is not contingent on the kingdom normalising ties with Israel.
