Saudis must recognise Israel for nuclear deal, says Trump

[313Ghazi]

The landmark nuclear deal between the US and Saudi Arabia is dependent on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords recognising the State of Israel, President Donald Trump has said.

"The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!)... which pertains only to non-military use... will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump's remarks come after criticism from experts that the deal could run the risk of future nuclear proliferation in an already unstable region.

Saudi Arabia has previously said it would not recognise Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.



In 2020, Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, which secured the historic normalisation of relations between Israel and two Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.

Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan have since also signed the accords.

Saudi Arabia has not so far responded to Trump's remarks.

And it was not immediately clear if the condition of joining the Abraham Accords was stipulated in the text of the deal - which has not been released - or that Saudi Arabia had agreed to that condition, or would be forced to join the accords.

Meanwhile Israel welcomed Trump's statement.

Posting on X, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Saudi Arabia joining the accords "would be an historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East".

The statement did not mention the nuclear deal. However, Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat said previously his country "can manage it" if Saudi Arabia had nuclear power for peaceful means.

Israel itself is widely believed to have nuclear weapons, but it neither confirms nor denies that this is the case.

The US-Saudi deal, whose signing was announced on Wednesday, is described as a "peaceful nuclear co-operation agreement" that will provide "great access for American companies in the Saudi nuclear energy programme" by the US energy department.

The nuclear issue has been at the centre of the months-long US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

• Trump's nuclear deal with Saudis jettisons longstanding US demands
  
  • • Published
      1 hour ago

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, told CBS News in 2018 that his own nation was not planning to acquire a nuclear weapon, but that "without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible".

Earlier US media reports suggested the deal could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium in the future - which can be used as fuel for power plants, but also potentially to make nuclear bombs. However, Trump's remarks appear to deny this.

The agreement will now be sent to the US Congress for review.

Some lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are expected to oppose the deal, though Trump's Republican Party controls both the upper and lower chambers and opponents of the deal do not appear to have the votes needed to block it.

 

[El Sidd]

Israel itself is widely believed to have nuclear weapons, but it neither confirms nor denies that this is the case.

Trump's remarks come after criticism from experts that the deal could run the risk of future nuclear proliferation in an already unstable region.

The region is unstable because of Schrodingers nuclear weapons. This ofcourse is not an experts opinion since expert opinion is that stability comes from widely believing that a rogue country may or may not have nuclear weapons.

 

[Feroze]

First there needs to be a Palestinian country. Then there can be a recognition of Israel.

 

[Ali_Baba]

The landmark nuclear deal between the US and Saudi Arabia is dependent on Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords recognising the State of Israel, President Donald Trump has said.

"The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!)... which pertains only to non-military use... will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump's remarks come after criticism from experts that the deal could run the risk of future nuclear proliferation in an already unstable region.

Saudi Arabia has previously said it would not recognise Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.



In 2020, Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, which secured the historic normalisation of relations between Israel and two Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain.

Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan have since also signed the accords.

Saudi Arabia has not so far responded to Trump's remarks.

And it was not immediately clear if the condition of joining the Abraham Accords was stipulated in the text of the deal - which has not been released - or that Saudi Arabia had agreed to that condition, or would be forced to join the accords.

Meanwhile Israel welcomed Trump's statement.

Posting on X, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Saudi Arabia joining the accords "would be an historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East".

The statement did not mention the nuclear deal. However, Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat said previously his country "can manage it" if Saudi Arabia had nuclear power for peaceful means.

Israel itself is widely believed to have nuclear weapons, but it neither confirms nor denies that this is the case.

The US-Saudi deal, whose signing was announced on Wednesday, is described as a "peaceful nuclear co-operation agreement" that will provide "great access for American companies in the Saudi nuclear energy programme" by the US energy department.

The nuclear issue has been at the centre of the months-long US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

• Trump's nuclear deal with Saudis jettisons longstanding US demands
  • • Published
      1 hour ago

Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, told CBS News in 2018 that his own nation was not planning to acquire a nuclear weapon, but that "without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible".

Earlier US media reports suggested the deal could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium in the future - which can be used as fuel for power plants, but also potentially to make nuclear bombs. However, Trump's remarks appear to deny this.

The agreement will now be sent to the US Congress for review.

Some lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are expected to oppose the deal, though Trump's Republican Party controls both the upper and lower chambers and opponents of the deal do not appear to have the votes needed to block it.

All I can do is throw a "lol" at the Saudi's.. .Looks like Trumpie added on new conditions after all was said and done!

 

[030292]

All I can do is throw a "lol" at the Saudi's.. .Looks like Trumpie added on new conditions after all was said and done!

Typical trump, the art of the deal, some leaders are so far up his ass i doubt they can even utter the word no trump.

 

[Feroze]

This Trump guy is such a joke. There are alternatives to USA.

Saudi Arabia can go to China or Russia for nuclear technology.

 

[Feroze]

US and Saudi Arabia sign nuclear agreement​

Update

Saudi Arabia and the US signed a nuclear energy cooperation agreement. (AFP/File)
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https://arab.news/2cx3s

Updated 23 July 2026 12:33
Arab News
July 23, 202612:24






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• Deal for collaboration on peaceful use of nuclear energy ‘strengthens cooperation between the 2 countries in the fields of energy and advanced technologies,’ Saudi Energy Ministry says

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the US on Wednesday signed a cooperation agreement for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the Kingdom’s Energy Ministry said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday Saudi Arabia is an important strategic partner and that entering into a nuclear agreement with Riyadh makes sense.

Rubio said the cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia would result only in a peaceful, civilian atomic program.

“Suffice it to say that any agreement that we’re going to make with any country in the world on civil nuclear energy is going to be one that will have safeguards in place to ensure that it can’t be turned into a weapons program,” Rubio said on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit in Manila.

“Saudi Arabia seeks to have a peaceful, civil nuclear program,” he told reporters, noting a similar deal was in place with the United Arab Emirates.

The deal, known as a “123 agreement,” which is required for Washington to engage in nuclear cooperation with another country, was formally signed by the Saudi minister of energy, Abdulaziz bin Salman, and the US energy secretary, Chris Wright, alongside what the Trump administration described as a “bilateral safeguards agreement.”

It builds on the historic strategic partnership between the US and Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Energy said in a statement, and follows the announcement by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during a visit to the US last November, of the successful conclusion of bilateral negotiations about cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

The agreement further “strengthens cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy and advanced technologies,” the ministry added, to facilitate the exchange of expertise, knowledge and technologies. It also aims to also contribute to efforts to ensure the highest international standards for nuclear safety, nuclear security and nonproliferation.

“These agreements reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening US-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad,” Wright said in a statement.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2651948/saudi-arabia

 

[Feroze]

Experts tell Asharq Al-Awsat: nuclear agreement strengthens Saudi Arabia's reliability in global markets​

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman meets with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright during the latter's visit to the Kingdom last year. Supplied.
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https://arab.news/wgacq

Updated 23 July 2026 18:36
Asharq Al-Awsat
July 23, 202618:28






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RIYADH: Economic experts and specialists told Asharq Al-Awsat that the peaceful nuclear agreement between Saudi Arabia and the US marks a new and unprecedented phase of strategic, high-value cooperation between the two countries.

They said the agreement extends beyond its technical and developmental impact on the energy sector, strengthening the Kingdom's credibility in international markets as an attractive hub for cross-border investment.








It also provides the Saudi economy with greater resilience and stronger protection against unexpected global shocks, drives a qualitative leap in local manufacturing, and advances the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

Analyzing the agreement's benefits, Shura Council member Fadl bin Saad Al-Buainain told Asharq Al-Awsat that the deal carries major strategic and economic significance. From a strategic perspective, it deepens the longstanding partnership between Riyadh and Washington and provides a framework for long-term cooperation that supports key aspects of comprehensive national security.

Al-Buainain stressed that the agreement should be viewed through a broad strategic lens rather than being assessed solely based on direct costs and returns. He said its benefits extend across the economy, including water security, energy security, and regional stability, with Saudi Arabia serving as the region's central pillar.

Benefits for the national energy sector

Discussing the agreement's direct impact on energy and natural resources, Al-Buainain said the introduction of peaceful nuclear energy would improve production efficiency in sectors vital to the economy, particularly electricity generation and water desalination, which remain strategic priorities for the Kingdom's water security.

He added that using nuclear power to generate electricity would free up substantial volumes of oil and natural gas currently consumed by domestic power plants. Those resources could then be redirected toward exports to increase government revenues while also helping meet growing domestic demand, particularly from the industrial, mining, and advanced technology sectors. He also noted the Kingdom's ambition to make optimal use of its uranium reserves and develop uranium enrichment capabilities to achieve self-sufficiency in nuclear fuel and strengthen the sovereignty of its energy sector.

Localizing advanced technologies

Addressing the agreement's long-term horizon, Al-Buainain said the approximately 30-year accord establishes a lasting partnership that will help ensure continued investment flows, technology transfer, and stronger ties with leading US companies.

He said the partnership is expected to serve as a gateway for advanced technologies and high-value industries linked to the nuclear sector while developing the skills of young Saudi professionals. This would support economic diversification and create a new growth sector underpinning a wide range of productive industries. He also pointed to the possibility of exporting electricity to neighboring countries through regional power interconnection networks.

Attracting foreign investment

For his part, Dr. Abdulrahman Baashen, head of the Al-Shorouq Center for Economic Studies in Jazan, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the agreement lays the most important strategic foundation for a first-of-its-kind bilateral partnership, raising the level of industrial and technological cooperation between the two countries.

He said the agreement would accelerate the Kingdom's efforts to improve energy efficiency, expand clean energy, protect the environment, and achieve its net-zero emissions targets under the commitments of Saudi Vision 2030.

Baashen added that the partnership opens broad opportunities to introduce and localize advanced industries that complement strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, and advanced chip production. He said this would enhance the competitiveness of Saudi products in global markets and strengthen the stability of the Kingdom's industrial base.

Baashen concluded that the agreement's most significant immediate impact lies in enhancing the Saudi economy's overall reliability in the eyes of global investors and international companies. He said this would stimulate foreign direct investment and pave the way for international and regional partnership projects that would provide the national economy with stronger protection against economic shocks and global volatility.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2652047/business-economy

 

[Solomon2]

First there needs to be a Palestinian country. Then there can be a recognition of Israel.

I think we must consider that pushing for Palestinian Arab statehood is a no-go. The moral basis for it has been sacrificed by the anti-Israel Arabs' decades-long refusal to live in peace with Jews and the historical basis for a Palestinian Arab state never existed.

 

[shapurzolaktaf]

This Trump guy is such a joke. There are alternatives to USA.

Saudi Arabia can go to China or Russia for nuclear technology.

Russia and China could have started an alternative for IAEA, doing checks, providing peaceful nuclear technology and earning from nuclear deals. That would make Mossad infiltrated IAEA go bankrupt and US would not be able to use IAEA as a tool against Iran and others.

 

[Watandar]

I think we must consider that pushing for Palestinian Arab statehood is a no-go. The moral basis for it has been sacrificed by the anti-Israel Arabs' decades-long refusal to live in peace with Jews and the historical basis for a Palestinian Arab state never existed.

Palestinians live under a military occupation of Israel with no rights and an apartheid system. The Palestinians are not the problem.

 

[Feroze]

I think we must consider that pushing for Palestinian Arab statehood is a no-go. The moral basis for it has been sacrificed by the anti-Israel Arabs' decades-long refusal to live in peace with Jews and the historical basis for a Palestinian Arab state never existed.

Ummm...No. What is this nonsense?

Zionists have occupied Palestinian lands and the Palestinians deserve a country for themselves.

No Palestine country, no nuclear deal. You think the Saudi Ulema are brain dead? They are for a Palestinian country.

Saudi Arabia can always go for Chinese nuclear reactors and nuclear technology.

Saudi Arabia DOES NOT NEED USA.

 

[mythbuster]

I think we must consider that pushing for Palestinian Arab statehood is a no-go. The moral basis for it has been sacrificed by the anti-Israel Arabs' decades-long refusal to live in peace with Jews and the historical basis for a Palestinian Arab state never existed.

What would you do with the Palestinians ? Assimilate them in Israel ?

 

[Owaiz]

I guess now we know what Trump will ask for from Pakistan in return for the 10 billion loan.