President Donald Trump has approved a landmark 30-year civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could open a pathway for uranium enrichment on Saudi soil, according to multiple officials familiar with the decision. The deal was expected to be formally announced on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman set to sign the document.
The agreement is known as a "123 Agreement," a reference to Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which is required before American companies and government agencies can work with foreign entities to develop a civilian nuclear industry. The deal is expected to unlock billions of dollars for the US nuclear sector, with American firms potentially involved in building a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia — though only if a joint US-Saudi study determines it is warranted. The Trump administration is expected to submit the agreement to Congress within days; once submitted, it enters a roughly 90-day review period, after which it takes effect unless lawmakers pass a joint resolution to block it. Overriding a presidential veto would require a two-thirds congressional majority.
Nonproliferation experts and some lawmakers have raised serious concerns about the deal's terms. Notably, the agreement does not include what is known as the "Gold Standard" — the pledge to forgo uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, both of which are potential pathways to nuclear weapons. It also omits the "Additional Protocol," which grants the International Atomic Energy Agency broader inspection powers, including snap inspections at undeclared sites. By contrast, the United Arab Emirates agreed to the Gold Standard when it signed its own 123 Agreement with Washington in 2009. One source clarified that while the deal creates a legal pathway for cooperation on the full nuclear fuel cycle, it does not obligate the United States to actually transfer enrichment capabilities or technology to Riyadh.
The geopolitical stakes are considerable. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated publicly in 2018 that if Iran were to develop a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would pursue one as well "as soon as possible." The kingdom has also consistently asserted its right to enrich uranium domestically. Both the Trump and Biden administrations had previously sought a nuclear deal with Riyadh, and US Energy Secretary Wright had argued in earlier remarks that any preliminary agreement contained all nonproliferation standards required under US law.
Why this matters: Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, has long sought to develop civilian nuclear energy as part of its economic diversification plans. This agreement represents a significant shift in US nonproliferation policy and could reshape the strategic balance in the Middle East, particularly given ongoing tensions with Iran over its own nuclear programme. Critics — including some Republicans and many Democrats — argue that the absence of Gold Standard safeguards sets a dangerous precedent and could accelerate a regional nuclear arms race. Supporters say the deal advances US commercial interests and keeps Saudi Arabia within the American nuclear partnership framework rather than turning to alternative suppliers such as Russia or China.