Trump approves nuclear deal that could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium

US President Donald Trump has approved a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could allow the kingdom to enrich uranium for its civilian nuclear programme, according to two people familiar with the decision.

The sources, who were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly because the decision has not yet been formally announced, said the agreement could be unveiled as early as today (22 July).

The proposed deal is expected to remain in force for 30 years and would involve US companies in developing Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear programme.

It could also pave the way for the construction of a uranium enrichment facility in the kingdom following a joint US-Saudi feasibility study.

However, the agreement is expected to face scrutiny in Congress, where some lawmakers are concerned that allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich its own uranium could fuel nuclear proliferation and trigger a new regional arms race.

Saudi Arabia is a member of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy while monitoring member states to ensure they are not pursuing secret nuclear weapons programmes.

According to one of the sources, the agreement is not expected to include the IAEA's Additional Protocol, which provides for more extensive inspections, monitoring and verification measures.

The expected announcement comes as the United States and Israel continue military operations against Iran, aimed in part at preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran has consistently maintained that its uranium enrichment programme is for peaceful purposes.

The White House and Saudi officials in Riyadh did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

Both Trump and former President Joe Biden had previously sought to negotiate a civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that would involve sharing American nuclear technology.

However, non-proliferation experts have warned that allowing Saudi Arabia to operate uranium enrichment facilities could eventually enable the kingdom to pursue a nuclear weapons programme. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has previously suggested the kingdom would seek nuclear weapons if Iran were to acquire one.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited Saudi Arabia last year, shortly before Trump's trip to the kingdom, and discussed expanding Saudi Arabia's commercial nuclear power industry with Saudi officials. The US Department of Energy did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia has also strengthened its security ties with nuclear-armed Pakistan. The two countries signed a mutual defence pact after Israel launched an attack on Qatar targeting Hamas officials. Pakistan's defence minister later said his country's nuclear capability "will be made available" to Saudi Arabia if necessary, a statement widely viewed as a warning to Israel, which is widely believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear-armed state. 

Although uranium enrichment alone does not automatically lead to the development of nuclear weapons, experts say it provides a critical capability that could eventually support a weapons programme if combined with other technologies. This concern has long been at the centre of Western objections to Iran's nuclear activities.

The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia's neighbour, signed a so-called "123 Agreement" with the United States to build the Barakah nuclear power plant with South Korean assistance. Unlike Saudi Arabia's proposed arrangement, the UAE agreed not to pursue uranium enrichment, a model that non-proliferation experts have described as the international "gold standard" for civilian nuclear cooperation.