Trump Sends Saudi Nuclear Deal to Congress Amid Israeli-Palestinian Tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump has sent the U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement to Congress, marking a significant step in the deal's implementation. The submission of the 30-year agreement starts a 90-legislative-day congressional review period during which Congress can reject the agreement.
The agreement would allow U.S. companies to export civilian nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia and potentially enable uranium enrichment within the kingdom under American oversight. Riyadh has insisted on maintaining the option for domestic enrichment, citing the need to reduce oil and gas consumption in its power system and preserve more hydrocarbons for export.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) previously stated that Saudi Arabia would pursue a nuclear weapon if Iran acquired one. Trump has linked the deal's implementation to Israel's normalization of relations with Riyadh, which Riyadh has refused to do without an independent Palestinian state.