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President Donald Trump has reaffirmed that the United States will not proceed with a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with Saudi Arabia unless the kingdom normalizes relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. Speaking at the White House, Trump said the condition was always understood, even as the agreement was signed without it, according to multiple reports.

The deal, announced by the US Department of Energy on July 22, would support Saudi Arabia's peaceful nuclear energy program and open opportunities for American companies. However, Trump publicly tied its approval to Saudi accession to the Abraham Accords, a framework brokered during his first term that normalized ties between Israel and several Arab states.

"I just say that in order to do it, they have to be a member of the Abraham Accords, which have been very successful," Trump said, as reported by Al Jazeera. "But it's time now that they do it."

Coverage comparison

Coverage of the announcement and Trump's subsequent remarks varies in emphasis and detail. ABC Australia reported that Trump, in his first comments on the deal, said the agreement would not include uranium enrichment by Riyadh—a detail Trump also posted on his Truth Social platform, where he wrote: "The Civil Nuclear Deal (There will be no enrichment of material!) being made between the United States Department of Energy and Saudi Arabia... will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords."

Al Jazeera focused on Trump's reiteration of the condition and noted that Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to his latest statement. It also reported that Energy Secretary Chris Wright publicly backed the condition. TASS—English similarly quoted Trump saying, "It was always understood, and Chris knew, and Saudi Arabia knew that if they didn't join the Abraham Accords, the deal is not. I'm not going to do the deal."

In contrast, the Jerusalem Post ran two pieces with a more critical and analytical tone. One article, by Douglas Bloomfield, described the rollout as a series of "snafus," and reported that Trump was "embarrassed" and the Saudis "blindsided." The piece also said that neither the Israel normalization nor the no-enrichment condition appeared in the documents that Wright signed, and that it was unclear whether they could be added before the deal goes to Congress. Another Jerusalem Post article, by David Ben-Basat, focused on Israel's concerns over Saudi uranium enrichment, writing that allowing an independent enrichment capability "should set off alarm bells in Jerusalem."

Key claims

  • Conditionality on Abraham Accords: Multiple sources, including Al Jazeera, TASS, and ABC Australia, report that Trump made Saudi accession to the Abraham Accords a condition for the nuclear deal. Trump said the condition was always understood, although the Department of Energy's announcement did not mention it.
  • No uranium enrichment for Riyadh: Trump stated on Truth Social that the deal includes no enrichment of uranium by Saudi Arabia, a claim carried by ABC Australia and TASS. However, the Jerusalem Post reported that the signed documents did not include such a provision, and its analysis suggested the agreement might not require Riyadh to adopt the IAEA's Additional Protocol, allowing for more intrusive inspections.
  • Contested enrichment provision: While Trump asserted there would be no enrichment, the Jerusalem Post's Ben-Basat article indicates that the agreement—as reported by Reuters—may actually permit Saudi Arabia to develop an independent uranium enrichment capability. This directly contradicts Trump's statement and is a point of contention.
  • Saudi Arabia's stance on Israel normalization: Al Jazeera and ABC Australia note that Riyadh has long insisted it will not recognize Israel until there is a clear path to Palestinian statehood. ABC Australia reports that Saudi Arabia has said it would only recognize Israel if Israel recognizes a Palestinian state, a condition the Netanyahu government has refused.
  • Regional concerns: The Jerusalem Post reported that the deal could increase the risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, particularly if Saudi Arabia gains enrichment capabilities. The article noted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's earlier remark that if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, Saudi Arabia would follow suit "as soon as possible," though this claim was carried only by that outlet.

Perspectives

Trump administration: President Trump and Energy Secretary Chris Wright maintain that the deal is in US interests and that Saudi Arabia's participation in the Abraham Accords is a prerequisite. Trump expressed confidence that no one got out ahead of him, despite reports that Wright did not brief him before signing.

Saudi Arabia: The kingdom has not yet publicly responded to Trump's latest conditions. However, it has consistently conditioned normalization with Israel on progress toward Palestinian statehood, a stance reported by Al Jazeera and ABC Australia. The Jerusalem Post reported that Saudi officials were blindsided by the social media statement.

Israel: Israeli commentators and officials, as reflected in the Jerusalem Post, are concerned about the potential for Saudi uranium enrichment, which they view as a threat to Israel's security and regional stability. They argue that independent enrichment is not necessary for a civilian nuclear program and could be diverted for weapons.

Critics of the deal: The Jerusalem Post's Bloomfield column highlighted the disarray in the administration's rollout and raised concerns about the deal's terms, suggesting that neither the normalization nor the no-enrichment conditions were in the signed documents, making their enforceability uncertain.