Trump administration to submit Saudi nuclear deal to Congress without key safeguards: report

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to submit a nuclear technology sharing agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress in the coming days. Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the pact, a 123 Agreement, does not include the safeguards the U.S. typically insists on to prevent the diversion of nuclear materials for weapons programs.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman have signed the agreement. A preliminary version of this pact was agreed upon in Riyadh last year. The lack of stringent safeguards has been a point of concern in previous nuclear deals, as it could potentially allow for the proliferation of nuclear weapons technology.

This development comes as the administration moves to finalize its energy cooperation with Saudi Arabia. The details of the agreement and the specific safeguards, or lack thereof, are expected to be scrutinized by Congress once the document is formally submitted.