Key Takeaways
- US President Donald Trump has stated that Saudi Arabia must recognize Israel as part of a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement.
- The proposed deal, which excludes uranium enrichment and is limited to peaceful purposes, will only be approved if Riyadh joins the Abraham Accords.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump had conveyed this condition repeatedly to Saudi leaders.
US President Donald Trump has instructed Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel as a precondition for moving forward with a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, according to a post on Truth Social. The proposed deal, which is limited to peaceful purposes and excludes uranium enrichment, will only be approved if Riyadh signs the Abraham Accords.
In his statement, Trump emphasized that the potential nuclear package includes an agreement for peaceful cooperation between the US and Saudi Arabia, which would then require congressional review in the United States.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump had repeatedly conveyed this condition to Saudi leaders. She stated that the agreement will not proceed unless Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords, a move that has been seen as a significant diplomatic step towards normalizing relations between Israel and Arab states.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is aware of the planned US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement and is preparing to implement international verification measures. The IAEA's involvement underscores the importance of ensuring compliance with non-proliferation standards in any such agreements.
Saudi Arabia has not yet commented on Trump’s statement, leaving the situation uncertain for now. However, the White House press secretary’s confirmation suggests that this condition remains a firm requirement for the agreement to move forward.
The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, marked a significant shift in regional dynamics by normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states, including Saudi Arabia. The current push from Trump appears to be an effort to solidify these diplomatic gains through concrete agreements like the nuclear cooperation deal.
While the exact terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, it is understood that the deal will focus on peaceful uses of nuclear technology without involving uranium enrichment, a sensitive issue in Middle Eastern politics. The involvement of the US Department of Energy and the IAEA indicates a commitment to transparency and international oversight.
