A classified US intelligence assessment warns that Saudi Arabia may still seek nuclear weapons, fueling bipartisan opposition in Congress to a proposed Trump administration civilian nuclear cooperation pact, according to a report by The Jerusalem Post.
A new classified US intelligence assessment, reported by The Jerusalem Post overnight Saturday, warns that Saudi Arabia has not ruled out developing nuclear weapons — a finding that is fueling bipartisan opposition in Congress to the Trump administration's proposed civilian nuclear cooperation pact with Riyadh.
As The Zioneer reported on Friday, September 25, 2026, earlier classified documents had already indicated that Saudi Arabia had not excluded the nuclear option. Those initial reports, citing US officials, also highlighted that the proposed US-Saudi pact lacks a mandatory IAEA verification protocol, and that US intelligence could not rule out Riyadh's pursuit of weapons under the deal.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, the Trump administration has sought to allay proliferation fears through safeguards including a 'black box' monitoring mechanism for enrichment facilities and a ten-year ban on Saudi enrichment without Washington's consent. The administration has also decoupled the nuclear pact from formal normalization with Israel. Nevertheless, opposition in Congress has persisted, with critics warning the deal could trigger a regional arms race. In July, MK Avigdor Liberman similarly warned that the program would inevitably lead to nuclear weapons.
It remains unconfirmed whether the intelligence assessment cited by The Jerusalem Post represents new findings or a restatement of earlier conclusions. Neither the White House nor the Saudi government has commented. The path to congressional approval remains uncertain.
3 developments
- DevelopingLiberman warns Saudi civilian nuclear program will lead to nuclear weapons, arms race
- DevelopingUS expects 'black box' safeguards to prevent Saudi nuclear weapons program, officials say
- DevelopingIAEA says aware of US-Saudi civilian nuclear talks, expects formal safeguards request
- DevelopingZioneer analysis: US-Saudi nuclear deal enables uranium enrichment, risks regional arms race
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