Date: July 23, 2026
By Kimberly Wilson
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a newly announced civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia will only move forward if the kingdom agrees to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords. The announcement introduces a major new condition to a deal that had been unveiled just a day earlier.
Trump said the agreement is "totally subject" to Saudi Arabia becoming a participant in the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, under which several Arab countries established diplomatic relations with Israel during his first term in office. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that normalization with Israel is now a prerequisite for the nuclear agreement to proceed.
The civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, signed earlier this week by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, is intended to help Saudi Arabia develop a peaceful nuclear energy program using American technology and expertise. The agreement would support the construction of civilian nuclear reactors for electricity generation and other non-military purposes.
Trump emphasized that the proposed partnership is strictly for civilian purposes and would not permit Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons. He said the agreement is designed to ensure that any nuclear cooperation remains focused on peaceful energy production under U.S. oversight.
Saudi Arabia has long maintained that it will not normalize relations with Israel unless there is meaningful progress toward establishing an independent Palestinian state. That position has remained unchanged despite years of diplomatic efforts by successive U.S. administrations to expand the Abraham Accords.
The new condition therefore places the future of the nuclear agreement in doubt. Analysts say Riyadh is unlikely to abandon its longstanding position on Palestinian statehood without significant concessions, making it uncertain whether the deal can move forward in its current form.
Israel welcomed Trump's announcement, viewing Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords as one of the most significant potential diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East. Israeli officials have repeatedly argued that normalization between Riyadh and Jerusalem would reshape regional politics and strengthen cooperation against shared security threats.
The agreement will now undergo a 90-day congressional review, during which lawmakers will examine its terms and determine whether to approve or block the proposed cooperation. The deal also includes a two-year feasibility study before major nuclear projects can begin.
Some members of Congress have already expressed concerns about the agreement, particularly because it reportedly does not include the so-called "gold standard" provisions that prohibit uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing—restrictions commonly included in U.S. nuclear cooperation agreements. Critics argue stronger safeguards may be necessary to prevent future proliferation risks.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, with the United States and Iran engaged in an escalating confrontation and regional security remaining fragile. Observers say Washington hopes that expanding diplomatic ties between Israel and Arab states could help strengthen regional stability despite ongoing conflicts.
Saudi Arabia has been seeking to diversify its economy under its Vision 2030 program, with nuclear energy viewed as a key component of its long-term strategy to reduce dependence on oil and meet growing domestic electricity demand. Access to U.S. nuclear technology would represent a major step toward achieving those goals.
Diplomatic observers say Trump's decision to tie the nuclear agreement directly to Saudi-Israeli normalization significantly raises the political stakes for both Washington and Riyadh. While supporters argue the condition could encourage broader regional peace, critics warn it may delay or even derail a major energy partnership if the two sides cannot bridge longstanding differences over the Palestinian issue.
As Congress prepares to review the agreement, governments across the Middle East and international partners will be closely watching whether Saudi Arabia is willing to reconsider its position on the Abraham Accords or whether the new condition will stall one of the most significant U.S.-Saudi agreements in recent years.