The International Atomic Energy Agency said Thursday it is aware of negotiations between the US and Saudi Arabia on a bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation agreement and expects to receive a formal request to implement safeguards. The statement follows the White House's confirmation that the deal is contingent on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) acknowledged Thursday evening that it is following the US-Saudi civilian nuclear negotiations and anticipates receiving a formal request to implement verification measures under the prospective agreement. The statement, attributed to the agency by Israeli media outlet N12 (Channel 12), marks the first institutional acknowledgment from the UN nuclear watchdog regarding the bilateral talks.
As The Zioneer reported Thursday evening, the White House spokesperson confirmed hours earlier that the civilian nuclear pact is conditional on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, a position reiterated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the US Energy Department earlier in the day. The IAEA’s willingness to apply safeguards aligns with standard non-proliferation practice, but the formal request has not yet been submitted.
Saudi Arabia has long sought a civilian nuclear program as part of its Vision 2030 diversification plan. The kingdom’s potential normalization with Israel, tied to the nuclear deal, remains a central pillar of US regional diplomacy. No timeline for the formal IAEA request has been announced, and Congress has yet to review the bilateral agreement.
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