Trump Links Saudi Nuclear Deal to Israel Normalization

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the newly signed U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation agreement is “totally subject” to Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords, a condition that was not mentioned when the deal was announced a day earlier. The statement has cast confusion over the landmark agreement and raised questions about the administration’s strategy in the Middle East.

A Sudden Condition

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that the civil nuclear deal “will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.” He also asserted that “there will be no enrichment of material!” and that the United States is “not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities,” according to Al Jazeera.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the condition is binding, telling reporters: “If they don’t join the Abraham Accords, the deal is off.” She claimed Trump “has mentioned this on numerous occasions,” though the Energy Department’s announcement on July 22 made no reference to any such precondition.

The announcement came just one day after the U.S. Department of Energy revealed that Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman had signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement—known as a “123 agreement”—and a bilateral safeguards agreement, described as a “decades-long, multi-billion-dollar partnership,” as TIME reported.

The Deal’s Controversial Provisions

The agreement, which requires approval from the U.S. Congress within a 90-day review period, has drawn sharp criticism over its reported provisions on uranium enrichment. Unlike the 2009 U.S.-UAE 123 agreement—where the UAE voluntarily forwent enrichment and reprocessing in what became known as the “gold standard”—the Saudi deal reportedly does not require these commitments, according to NPR.

Multiple media reports indicate the agreement may allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically after a two-year joint U.S.-Saudi study determines whether enrichment is commercially viable. If the U.S. rejects indigenous enrichment, Saudi Arabia would be barred from enriching independently or with another foreign partner for 10 years.

Trump’s statement that “there will be no enrichment of material” appears to contradict these reports, adding to the confusion surrounding the deal’s exact terms.

Regional and International Reactions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s condition, with his office stating that “Saudi Arabia’s joining of the Abraham Accords would be an historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East. Peace through Strength,” as reported by The Jerusalem Post. However, Israeli opposition figures voiced alarm. Former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman warned that “a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia will end with nuclear weapons [production] and lead to a mad arms race across the entire Middle East.” Opposition leader Yair Golan said the deal creates a “dangerous reality” for Israel.

In Washington, the deal drew bipartisan criticism. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) called it “irresponsible and dangerous,” highlighting the apparent hypocrisy of waging war against Iran over its nuclear program while enabling Saudi enrichment. “Trump’s and Secretary Rubio’s hypocrisy is matched only by their recklessness,” Markey said in a statement, as NPR reported. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) expressed “deep concerns” and called for the inclusion of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol.

Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to Trump’s condition. The kingdom has long insisted it will not normalize relations with Israel without a pathway toward a Palestinian state—a position that puts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a difficult position.

The Broader Context

The nuclear deal unfolds against the backdrop of the ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran, launched on February 28, 2026. Iran continues to strike U.S. bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Qatar, while Houthi rebels in Yemen have attacked Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The conflict has reshaped Middle Eastern geopolitics and added urgency to the nuclear negotiations.

Matthew Bunn, a nuclear proliferation expert at Harvard University, told NPR that Saudi Arabia wants civilian nuclear energy for legitimate purposes but also “to provide the foundation, over time, for having more options to move toward nuclear weapons, should they feel the need.” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that if Iran develops a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia will follow suit.

What’s Next

The deal now faces a 90-day congressional review period. Congress can block the agreement only with a two-thirds majority vote to override a presidential veto—a high bar in the current political climate. The full text of the 123 agreement has not been publicly released, leaving critical questions about enrichment provisions unanswered.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was aware of the plan but had yet to receive a request to oversee inspections, according to Al Jazeera.

As Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told NPR: “Does a social post supersede a signed diplomatic agreement? No one in Washington really knows how it’s going to work.”