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Trump Approves Nuclear Deal Potentially Granting Saudi Arabia Uranium Enrichment Capability, Faces Proliferation Concern
🇺🇸 United States /Energy & Infrastructure

Trump Approves Nuclear Deal Potentially Granting Saudi Arabia Uranium Enrichment Capability, Faces Proliferation Concerns

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • President Trump has reportedly approved a U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement that could allow uranium enrichment.
  • The deal, expected to be announced soon, faces potential congressional opposition due to proliferation concerns.
  • The agreement comes amid ongoing efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

President Donald Trump has reportedly approved a significant nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, which could grant the kingdom the capability to enrich uranium for its civilian nuclear program. The decision, according to two individuals familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly, is anticipated to be formally announced as early as Wednesday.

The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly about the yet to be formally announced decision, said the agreement is expected to be announced publicly as early as Wednesday.

— Sources familiar with the matterIndicating the imminent public announcement of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement.

The proposed 30-year agreement is expected to involve U.S. companies in the development of Saudi Arabia's nuclear infrastructure, potentially including a uranium enrichment facility following a joint study. However, the deal is likely to face scrutiny in Congress, where lawmakers harbor concerns that assisting Saudi Arabia in enriching its own uranium could escalate nuclear proliferation and trigger a regional arms race.

But the deal, which is expected to be submitted to Congress for review, could face headwinds among lawmakers who fear that helping the Saudis fulfill their long-standing desire to enrich their own uranium would open new rounds of nuclear proliferation and competition.

— Sources familiar with the matterHighlighting potential congressional opposition to the agreement due to proliferation risks.

Adding complexity, the agreement is reportedly not expected to include the IAEA's Additional Protocol, which mandates enhanced monitoring and verification measures. This development occurs while the U.S. and Israel are engaged in a conflict aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions, a situation Iran maintains is for peaceful purposes. The White House and Saudi officials have not yet commented on the reported decision, which was initially reported by The Wall Street Journal.

But the agreement is not expected to include the IAEA's Additional Protocol, which would allow for more monitoring, inspections and verification, according to one of the people.

— Source familiar with the matterDetailing a potential lack of enhanced monitoring in the agreement.
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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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