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Trump links Saudi nuclear deal to Israel normalization

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords to proceed with a civil nuclear deal.
  • Trump reiterated his condition, emphasizing that the nuclear agreement is contingent on Riyadh normalizing ties with Israel.
  • The U.S. and Saudi Arabia had signed a nuclear cooperation deal, but Trump later added the condition of normalization with Israel.

President Donald Trump has firmly stated that a civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia is conditional on the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. Trump dismissed suggestions that the U.S. Department of Energy had announced the deal prematurely, asserting that the condition was always understood.

No, nobody got out ahead.

— Donald TrumpResponding to a question about whether the U.S. Department of Energy announced the nuclear deal without his condition.

"It's time now that they do it," Trump said Friday, referring to Saudi Arabia's participation in the Abraham Accords. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia had signed a nuclear cooperation agreement earlier in the week to establish a civilian nuclear program in the kingdom. However, Trump publicly added the condition of normalization with Israel via social media the following day, a stance he reiterated.

I just say that in order to do it, they have to be a member of the Abraham Accords, which have been very successful. But it’s time now that they do it.

— Donald TrumpStating the condition for proceeding with the civil nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia.

While Trump indicated that Energy Secretary Chris Wright was aware of the condition before the deal was signed, Saudi Arabia has not yet officially responded to Trump's latest statement. Historically, Riyadh has maintained that it will not establish formal relations with Israel until a clear path toward Palestinian statehood is secured, a position currently opposed by Israel's government.

These agreements reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening US-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad.

— Chris WrightStatement from the Energy Secretary on the nuclear cooperation deal signed on Wednesday.

The initial framing of the nuclear cooperation deal by the Trump administration focused on mutual benefits for the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, without mentioning Israel. The agreement, described as a "decades-long, multibillion-dollar partnership," is now awaiting congressional review. Reports suggest the deal could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically, though Trump later clarified that "there will be no enrichment of material."

But it was always understood, and Chris knew, and Saudi Arabia knew.

— Donald TrumpClaiming that the condition of joining the Abraham Accords was understood before the nuclear deal was signed.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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