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President Donald Trump said Thursday that Saudi Arabia will only receive U.S. nuclear technology if it agrees to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel, adding a new condition to a civil nuclear agreement announced just one day earlier.
Trump said the nuclear deal is “totally subject” to Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations established during his first administration.
“If they don’t join the Abraham Accords, the deal is off,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, confirming the president’s position.
When asked why the requirement had not been included when the agreement was unveiled Wednesday, Leavitt responded that Trump is “always the final deal maker.”
The new condition injects uncertainty into the agreement, which would allow Saudi Arabia to build civilian nuclear power plants using U.S. technology and establish a pathway for a Saudi nuclear energy program.
The deal has already drawn scrutiny in Congress, where lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns that expanding uranium enrichment capabilities could increase nuclear proliferation risks in the Middle East.
Israel has long opposed Saudi Arabia developing nuclear enrichment capabilities, arguing the move could fuel a regional arms race. Israeli officials welcomed Trump’s decision to link the agreement to diplomatic recognition.
Saudi Arabia has pursued civilian nuclear power for years, while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously said the kingdom would seek nuclear weapons if Iran successfully developed one.
The Biden administration also explored a similar nuclear agreement with Riyadh but insisted Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel as a condition. Negotiations ultimately stalled.
Trump’s administration initially appeared to drop that requirement when it announced Wednesday’s agreement. Thursday’s reversal effectively restores the normalization demand.
Saudi-Israeli normalization remains uncertain following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza. Saudi leaders have said any diplomatic agreement would require credible commitments toward the creation of a Palestinian state.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump also stated that the agreement would not allow uranium enrichment.
“The Civil Nuclear Deal… will be approved,” Trump wrote. “But is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.”
That assertion appears to conflict with earlier descriptions of the agreement from people familiar with the negotiations, who indicated the deal could create a pathway toward Saudi nuclear enrichment. Most details of the agreement have not been made public.
The administration is expected to submit the agreement to Congress, triggering a 90-day review period. While lawmakers may attempt to block the deal, opponents would likely face difficulty overcoming a presidential veto.
Trump’s announcement marks another shift in administration policy, following last week’s proposal to impose shipping tolls through the Strait of Hormuz after months of administration officials arguing such a move would violate international law.
