US-Saudi civil nuclear deal faces confusion hours after signing; Trump ties it to Israel normalization

Published Jul 24, 07:54 AM UTC

A landmark US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, signed on July 22, 2026, is already mired in confusion. The deal, which allows American companies to help Saudi Arabia build civilian nuclear power, immediately sparked concerns over potential Saudi uranium enrichment capabilities. Within 24 hours, President Trump posted on social media linking the deal to Saudi normalization with Israel under the Abraham Accords—a condition not publicly attached by his negotiators—and appeared to rule out enrichment entirely. Former US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney, now at CSIS, noted the surprise condition does not alter Saudi Arabia's stance on normalization, which depends on Israeli support for a Palestinian state. The enrichment question remains contentious, as Saudi Arabia seeks control over the full nuclear fuel cycle, raising proliferation alarms in Washington and Israel.