US‑Saudi nuclear accord pending Trump signature allows uranium enrichment

The Trump administration has completed negotiations on a draft civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, known as a 123 Agreement. The deal would permit Riyadh to conduct limited domestic uranium enrichment and potentially plutonium reprocessing without adopting the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Additional Protocol, which provides the most stringent international safeguards.

Negotiations concluded in October 2025, but the agreement remains unsigned pending President Donald Trump’s signature. Sources say the ongoing war with Iran and concerns about bipartisan opposition in the U.S. Congress have delayed final approval. Critics argue the exemption from the Additional Protocol could open a pathway for Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons, undermining the United States’ longstanding “gold‑standard” non‑proliferation policy.

If enacted, the arrangement would mark a significant shift in U.S. nuclear cooperation, allowing the kingdom to develop its own enrichment capability while relying on future U.S. approvals for the most sensitive technologies.