President Donald Trump has said the United States will not move ahead with a proposed civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia unless the kingdom joins the Abraham Accords, making the normalization of relations with Israel a key condition for the deal.

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Trump’s remarks came after the U.S. Department of Energy announced that Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman had signed an agreement to advance plans for Saudi Arabia’s first commercial nuclear reactors. The agreement is expected to be submitted to the U.S. Congress for review.

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Trump links nuclear cooperation to Israel normalization

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Saudi Arabia’s participation in the Abraham Accords was essential before the nuclear agreement could proceed.

“In order to do it, they have to be a member of the Abraham Accords,” Trump said.

The president added that although he had not discussed the condition with Energy Secretary Chris Wright before the agreement was signed, he believed it had always been understood by both U.S. and Saudi officials.

Trump also expressed confidence that Saudi Arabia would eventually agree to the arrangement.

“At some point they’ll join … and they’ll do their civil nuclear,” he said.

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Agreement signed, congressional review next

Earlier this week, the Department of Energy announced the signing of a bilateral agreement focused on developing Saudi Arabia’s commercial nuclear energy program.

The agreement represents another step in long-running discussions between Washington and Riyadh over civil nuclear cooperation. Under U.S. procedures, the proposal is expected to undergo congressional review before any final implementation.

Saudi Arabia’s position remains unchanged

Saudi Arabia has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest condition.

The kingdom has consistently maintained that it will not normalize diplomatic relations with Israel until there is an irreversible pathway toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.

That position has remained central to Riyadh’s approach even as several Arab nations joined the Abraham Accords in recent years.

Nuclear talks span multiple U.S. administrations

Efforts to establish a civil nuclear partnership with Saudi Arabia began during Trump’s first term in office and continued under former President Joe Biden.

The Biden administration also sought to connect the proposed agreement with broader Middle East diplomacy, including the possibility of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords as part of a wider regional package.

Trump’s latest remarks publicly reaffirm that linkage by making normalization with Israel an explicit requirement for advancing the nuclear deal.

Potential business impact

A final agreement could benefit Westinghouse, one of the companies expected to play a significant role in Saudi Arabia’s nuclear energy program.

Westinghouse is jointly owned by Canadian firms Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management, both of which have interests in expanding nuclear energy projects internationally.

The proposed partnership is viewed as part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to diversify its energy sector while expanding civilian nuclear capabilities.

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FAQ

Why did Trump link the nuclear deal to the Abraham Accords?

Trump said the United States would proceed with the civil nuclear agreement only if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords and normalizes relations with Israel.

What are the Abraham Accords?

The Abraham Accords are a series of agreements that established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries with U.S. support.

Has Saudi Arabia agreed to join the Abraham Accords?

No. Saudi Arabia has maintained that it seeks an irreversible path toward a Palestinian state before recognizing Israel.

What happens next with the nuclear agreement?

The agreement signed by U.S. and Saudi officials is expected to be reviewed by the U.S. Congress before further steps can be taken.

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