Trump Says Saudi Nuclear Deal Hinges on Israel Recognition, Raising Stakes for Middle East Diplomacy
By Jahanzaib Saqib | SCN NEWS
U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that Saudi Arabia must normalize relations with Israel before Washington will finalize a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, reviving the Abraham Accords as a key condition for one of the region's most significant strategic deals.
Trump said the proposed 30-year U.S.–Saudi nuclear agreement would only move forward if Riyadh officially recognizes Israel by joining the Abraham Accords. He also stressed that the planned nuclear program is intended solely for civilian energy production and would not permit uranium enrichment capable of producing nuclear weapons.
The announcement marks a major shift after Washington only recently unveiled the nuclear framework with Saudi Arabia. The deal would allow American companies to build reactors in the kingdom and expand long-term energy cooperation, but it still requires congressional review before taking effect.
Saudi Arabia Faces Difficult Choice
Trump's new condition places Riyadh in a difficult diplomatic position.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly maintained that it will not normalize relations with Israel unless there is a credible pathway toward a Palestinian state—a position that remains at odds with the current Israeli government's policies. Saudi officials had not publicly responded to Trump's latest remarks at the time of publication.
Israel Welcomes the Move
Israeli leaders welcomed Trump's position, describing Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords as a potential historic breakthrough that could reshape regional security and diplomacy.
Nuclear Deal Under Scrutiny
The proposed agreement has also drawn criticism from non-proliferation experts and some U.S. lawmakers.
Unlike earlier U.S. civilian nuclear agreements with countries such as the UAE, the Saudi framework has sparked debate over uranium enrichment, verification measures and whether it could encourage a wider regional nuclear competition. Congress will review the agreement before it can be fully implemented.
Most Unique Fact
Trump has transformed the proposed U.S.–Saudi nuclear agreement from an energy partnership into a broader geopolitical bargain, making Saudi recognition of Israel a central condition for one of Washington's biggest Middle East strategic initiatives.