The Trump administration plans to submit a civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress in the coming days, according to Reuters. The deal permits uranium enrichment on Saudi soil but does not include the International Atomic Energy Agency's 'Additional Protocol' for expanded oversight, nor the 'gold standard' clause that bans enrichment and reprocessing of spent fuel. Congress will have approximately 90 days to object to the pact.
Wednesday morning's Reuters report adds a critical new detail to the rapidly unfolding story of the US-Saudi civilian nuclear deal: the pact omits both the 'gold standard' clause banning uranium enrichment and reprocessing, and the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol for expanded oversight. The deal, first reported by The Wall Street Journal at 05:16 Jerusalem, would permit uranium enrichment on Saudi soil over 30 years.
The story has been reported in layers since the early hours. The initial WSJ report was followed by multiple confirmations by 05:56, including from the New York Times and Yedioth Ahronoth, which noted President Trump had separated the agreement from normalization with Israel. By 06:38, it emerged that US companies would build the enrichment facility, and by 08:10, the 30-year term and the role of US companies were confirmed. The Zioneer reported at 09:09 that Trump had formally approved the deal, and at 10:30, Reuters reported the agreement makes no mention of normalization with Israel. Corroboration has come from a defense-focused monitoring channel, the NYT, WSJ, Reuters, and Israel Hayom.
As The Zioneer reported on Sunday, a draft agreement had already been circulating that could allow Saudi enrichment without full international safeguards. The current deal, part of the Trump administration's approach, decouples nuclear cooperation from Israeli normalization, diverging from the Biden administration's policy.
The precise text of the agreement has not been made public, and it remains unclear whether Saudi Arabia will voluntarily accept the Additional Protocol or a 'gold standard' clause in future negotiations. The Congressional review period, which could begin within days, will provide a window for lawmakers to object.
5 developments
- DevelopingUS-Saudi nuclear deal makes no mention of normalization with Israel, Reuters reports
- DevelopingIsrael Hayom reports new details of Trump-Saudi nuclear deal, confirms uranium enrichment on Saudi soil
- DevelopingDraft US-Saudi agreement may allow Saudi uranium enrichment without full international safeguards
- DevelopingUS expects 'black box' safeguards to prevent Saudi nuclear weapons program, officials say
Source and signal
- Internal intake