US and Saudi Arabia Sign Nuclear Deal; Trump Adds Abraham Accords Condition Days Later

The United States and Saudi Arabia signed a nuclear cooperation agreement, announced by the White House around July 22-23, 2026, that could eventually permit Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium. The deal emerged after negotiations spanning more than one presidential administration, driven partly by U.S. concern that Saudi Arabia might seek nuclear technology from other countries if American terms were not met. The agreement must be submitted to Congress for review, where it could face opposition from lawmakers concerned about insufficient monitoring safeguards. The agreement drew immediate backlash from non-proliferation advocates and supporters of Israel, who raised concerns that Saudi uranium enrichment capability could eventually enable development of a nuclear weapon. Less than 24 hours after the deal was signed, President Trump posted on social media that Saudi Arabia would need to join the Abraham Accords for the nuclear agreement to move forward. On July 24, Trump publicly reiterated this position, stating Saudi Arabia "must be a member" of the Accords and asserting that this condition had always been part of the understanding between the two countries. As of the latest reporting, the nuclear deal has not been finalized for implementation, pending congressional review and Saudi Arabia's response to the Abraham Accords condition. It remains unresolved whether Saudi Arabia will agree to join the Abraham Accords, whether Congress will approve the deal as structured, and what specific safeguards will be included to address non-proliferation concerns. Separately, The New York Times reported that Trump's broader push for nuclear energy expansion could create business opportunities for his family and close allies, though the report notes no direct line can be drawn between his domestic nuclear agenda and those business interests; this claim regarding potential financial benefit has not been corroborated by other sources in this set.