US signs deal with Saudi Arabia that could allow kingdom to enrich nuclear fuel

By Kevin Liptak, Davis Winkie, CNN

(CNN) — President Donald Trump has approved a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that could lead to the kingdom enriching its own fuel for civilian reactors without adopting the “gold standard” of international oversight, according to two US officials and a source familiar with the matter.

The Department of Energy announced the agreement’s signature on Wednesday afternoon. It will next go to Congress for a mandatory review period.

The deal, known as a 123 agreement, would last 30 years, according to one US official, who added that it would involve American companies providing technology and expertise to develop the Saudi program.

Any agreement to give Saudi Arabia access to nuclear technology could prove controversial, both domestically and within the wider Middle East region, since the ability to enrich nuclear fuel could, in theory, eventually lead to the creation of nuclear weapons.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, in a statement accompanying the signature announcement, argued that “the agreements uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation.”

CNN previously reported that the administration let the deal languish for months over concerns about the Iran war and the potential for congressional disapproval.

Before uranium enrichment could begin, a joint US-Saudi team would explore whether it is warranted and commercially viable, and Americans would build the facility without transferring the sensitive technology to Saudi Arabia.

The deal otherwise bars Riyadh from developing its own enrichment technology or purchasing it from other countries for a decade, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the deal’s approval.

The agreement includes limits on what inspections might be carried out on the Saudi program, according to the officials and sources, which may draw skepticism from lawmakers.

The kingdom is notably not required to sign a standard agreement called the Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency, like the United Arab Emirates did in 2009 when it signed a “gold standard” nuclear cooperation deal with the US, an official said. The Saudis long balked at signing the protocol over concerns that it could theoretically allow inspectors to enter the holy city of Mecca or royal palaces.

The deal instead includes a bilateral safeguards agreement that resembles the model protocol but lacks the portions that offended Riyadh, a US official told CNN. The IAEA Board of Governors will have to ratify its terms.

Proponents of the deal say it will offer a lucrative commercial outlet for America’s resurgent nuclear industry while potentially freezing out rivals such as Russia and China.

The Energy Department announcement said the agreements mark the beginning of “a decades-long, multi-billion-dollar partnership,” and argued that the accord will “create high-paying US jobs and long-term economic growth.”

A spokesperson for Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Washington released a statement confirming the agreement, saying it “reflects the shared vision of both countries to expand cooperation in energy and future technologies.”

Dan Joyner, a nuclear regulatory consultant and law professor at the University of Alabama, told CNN that the agreement will open the door for “American and allied companies” to sell “reactors, components, fuel services, training, and technical assistance” with government export approval.

The deal could strategically benefit the US, Joyner argued, if it locks the Saudis into using US technology and provides Washington “continuing influence over its safety, security, and nonproliferation practices.” If the agreement falls through, he said, “Saudi Arabia could turn to Russia or China, giving those countries long-term influence over critical Saudi infrastructure.”

Other countries in the region are likely to closely monitor the deal’s progress.

Israel, a country that is widely believed to have undeclared nuclear weapons, has long been wary of Saudi Arabia accessing nuclear technology.

Iran, Saudi Arabia’s main rival in the region, has a stockpile of enriched uranium and has vowed to cling to its nuclear program even after months of US bombardment, claiming the program is for civilian purposes.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pledged to seek a nuclear weapon if Iran were ever to produce one.

Uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing are the two main pathways to create the core materials necessary to build nuclear weapons. Most countries with civilian nuclear reactors that require enriched uranium don’t produce it domestically — they instead purchase the material from vendors like the US or Russia and receive it in sealed shipments under strict international supervision.

The US has been eying a Saudi civilian nuclear agreement for years. Under the Biden administration, such an arrangement was viewed as part of a broader normalization pact between Saudi Arabia and Israel. But those efforts faltered after the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks. The Trump administration picked up the nuclear discussions last year.

The agreements will now be transmitted to Congress for a mandatory review period. Lawmakers could block the deal if both the House and Senate pass disapproval resolutions.

Some lawmakers and experts signaled their opposition to the deal soon after it came to light.

Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts decried the 123 agreement in a statement, arguing that it represents “potentially enabling nuclear proliferation in Saudi Arabia and igniting an arms race in the region.”

Henry Sokolski, who heads the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center nonprofit, told CNN he fears the deal opens the door for other countries in the region to pursue similar arrangements that could theoretically open the door to nuclear weapons development.

“What new standard is the Saudi deal going to set for the UAE, Turkey, and Egypt?” Sokolski asked.

Davis Winkie’s work at CNN is supported by a partnership between Outrider Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners (JFP). CNN retains full editorial control of the reporting.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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