Key facts
- The US and Saudi Arabia signed a civil nuclear agreement.
- The deal permits Saudi Arabia to develop a civilian nuclear program, including uranium enrichment.
- US technology will be used for reactor construction.
- The agreement does not include snap UN inspections.
- Prior US demands for Israel normalization in exchange for nuclear technology were reversed.
- Sources indicate normalization with Israel was not discussed during the nuclear talks.
- President Trump later linked the nuclear deal to Israel recognition.
The United States and Saudi Arabia have entered into a civil nuclear agreement that permits the kingdom to develop its civilian nuclear program, potentially including uranium enrichment. This deal allows for the construction of reactors using US technology and notably omits prior US demands for "snap" UN inspections. The agreement appears to reverse the Trump administration's earlier stance, which had linked nuclear technology transfer to normalization with Israel.