Trump ties Saudi nuclear deal to Israel recognition

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has stipulated that a civil nuclear program agreement with Saudi Arabia is contingent upon the Gulf nation normalizing relations with Israel. The deal, announced Wednesday, comes as the U.S. is engaged in a conflict with Iran, largely stemming from concerns over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

“

will be approved, but it is totally conditioned on Saudi Arabia joining the very fine and successful Abraham Accords.

The agreement is expected to yield billions of dollars for American companies, though critics express concerns about potential risks. It was also seen as a significant win for Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional rival, as it appeared to grant access to nuclear technology without requiring normalization with Israel. However, Trump clarified on Thursday that the deal "will be approved, but it is totally conditioned on Saudi Arabia joining the very fine and successful Abraham Accords."

“

a historic step forward for peace in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Saudi recognition of his country would be "a historic step forward for peace in the Middle East." Conversely, critics argue that the agreement, the specifics of which were not immediately released, could ignite a nuclear arms race in an already war-torn region. The Wall Street Journal reported that a clause in the deal might permit U.S. companies to construct a uranium enrichment plant in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Department of Energy did not confirm this clause and declined to comment, while Trump asserted on his social media platform, Truth Social, "There will be no enrichment of material!"

“

Trump claims his war on Iran is to stop an authoritarian country from enriching nuclear material. Now he's allowing his best friends in Saudi Arabia - one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world - to do just that. It's absurd.

While Congress must review the agreement, Republican lawmakers are unlikely to impede its implementation. Progressive Senator Bernie Sanders criticized the deal, writing on X, "Trump claims his war on Iran is to stop an authoritarian country from enriching nuclear material. Now he's allowing his best friends in Saudi Arabia - one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world - to do just that. It's absurd." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that "any agreement" signed "with any country in the world on civilian nuclear energy will have safeguards to ensure that it cannot be converted into a weapons program."

“

any agreement" with any country in the world on civilian nuclear energy will have safeguards to ensure that it cannot be converted into a weapons program.