A civil nuclear agreement signed by the Trump administration with Saudi Arabia outlines a conditional road map that could eventually allow uranium enrichment on Saudi territory of up to 20%, according to details shared with lawmakers as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The U.S. Department of Energy announced on July 22 that Washington and Riyadh had signed an agreement to support Saudi Arabia’s peaceful nuclear energy program, which was subsequently submitted to Congress for review alongside related documents.
U.S.-Saudi Civilian Nuclear Agreement Outlines Phased Path to 20% Enrichment
The agreement does not immediately authorize Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium. Instead, it establishes a phased process over an initial two-year period during which U.S. and Saudi officials are scheduled to conduct joint research on enrichment and conversion to assess economic feasibility and nonproliferation safeguards. Reactor sales are permitted during this timeframe, but enrichment itself remains barred. If the joint research concludes that enrichment is necessary, U.S. companies and foreign partners could construct facilities starting with an initial enrichment ceiling of 5%, with further research potentially opening discussions to approach 20%.
Proliferation Concerns and Inspection Standards
The provisions have drawn criticism from nonproliferation experts and lawmakers who warn that the agreement deepens proliferation concerns in the Middle East. Uranium enriched to 20% has cleared much of the technical ground required for conversion to weapons-grade material. Scott Roecker, vice president at the Nuclear Threat Initiative and a former U.S. Energy Department official, noted that at that level of enrichment, most of the work required to produce weapons-grade material is already done.
The Arms Control Association stated that the agreement leaves open a pathway for Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its own territory. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, criticized the inspection regime as falling short of the standard of the International Atomic Energy Agency Additional Protocol, stating it sets a lower bar than the standard applied to more than 100 countries worldwide.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated in a previous interview that if Iran obtains nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia will develop them as well. Similar statements were made by other Saudi officials, including Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
Congressional Oversight and Normalization Conditions
Lawmakers have raised concerns regarding the degree of congressional oversight built into the accord. According to reports, the agreement would permit enrichment subject to further consultations, as detailed by Seoul Economic Daily. Some members of Congress expressed worry that the legislature would have no practical means to block enrichment if the two-year review points in that direction.
The agreement does not require Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel or join the Abraham Accords according to Azerbaijani state news agency APA. President Donald Trump wrote in July, one day after the signing, that the pact remained contingent on Saudi recognition of Israel, despite normalization not appearing as a condition during the formal talks.
