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Trump adds new condition to Saudi nuclear deal, kingdom must normalize ties with Israel
🇺🇸 United States /Energy & Infrastructure

Trump adds new condition to Saudi nuclear deal, kingdom must normalize ties with Israel

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • President Donald Trump added a new condition to a U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal, stating the kingdom must normalize relations with Israel.
  • The condition was not mentioned when the civilian nuclear program agreement was announced, raising concerns about complications.
  • Experts have also expressed worries about the deal lacking safeguards against uranium enrichment, a concern Trump addressed by saying it would not allow enrichment.

President Donald Trump unexpectedly added a new stipulation to the recently signed U.S.-Saudi agreement for a civilian nuclear program. He declared on social media that the deal hinges on Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.

The agreement will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.

— Donald TrumpPresident Trump's social media post asserting the condition for the nuclear deal.

This condition was notably absent when the U.S. Energy Department and the Saudi government announced the deal on Wednesday. Trump's assertion the following day has introduced significant complexity, as normalizing ties with Israel would be a major diplomatic feat for the kingdom. The Abraham Accords, brokered by the Trump administration, expanded diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations.

U.S. is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.

— Donald TrumpPresident Trump's clarification on the U.S. stance regarding nuclear facilities.

Trump also stated that the pact prohibits uranium enrichment, addressing nonproliferation experts' concerns about the deal's safeguards. "The agreement will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords," he posted. He clarified that the U.S. "is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities."

the president was the "final dealmaker" and has called on Saudi Arabia to join the accords "on numerous occasions."

— Karoline LeavittWhite House press secretary explaining why the condition was not mentioned initially.

When questioned about the omission of this condition during the initial announcement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the president is the "final dealmaker" and has repeatedly urged Saudi Arabia to join the accords. The Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment on Trump's latest remarks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, however, praised the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the accords as a "historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East," though the statement did not mention the nuclear program deal.

historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East

— Benjamin Netanyahu's officeThe Israeli Prime Minister's office statement on the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by PBS NewsHour in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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