President Donald Trump stated that a newly signed civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia is contingent on the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel – a condition not previously made public. The deal, signed Wednesday and awaiting Congressional review, also explicitly prohibits Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium. Trump revealed this stipulation Thursday via posts on Truth Social and in comments to reporters, framing it as essential for progress on the Abraham Accords.
The agreement’s linkage to Israeli normalization represents a significant development, potentially reshaping regional dynamics. According to multiple reports, including those from NBC News, Bloomberg, Axios, and the BBC, this condition was not initially disclosed when the deal was announced. The Department of Energy confirmed the signing of the civilian nuclear cooperation agreement but did not comment on the conditions Trump outlined.
Trump’s announcement came after the agreement's signing, adding a new layer of complexity to the already sensitive negotiations. Middle East Eye reported that Trump appeared to backtrack on earlier statements regarding the deal by introducing the Israel normalization requirement. The Guardian noted this condition was posted by Trump on Truth Social. CNBC confirmed that the agreement does not include provisions for uranium enrichment.
The insistence on Israeli normalization reflects a broader US policy objective of fostering closer ties between Israel and Arab nations, as exemplified by the Abraham Accords. GB News characterized Trump’s statement as an “ultimatum” to Saudi Arabia. However, no right-leaning outlets were among the sources reporting this development; coverage was primarily from left-leaning and center sources.
The future of the deal now hinges on whether Saudi Arabia will agree to formally recognize Israel – a step that would mark a significant shift in its long-standing policy towards the country. The unresolved question is whether Saudi Arabia will accept these conditions, potentially stalling or altering the course of this landmark nuclear agreement.
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