Energy · ArchiveTrump Approves Saudi Nuclear Deal That May Allow Uranium EnrichmentAired July 22, 2026 at 3:22 PM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00President Trump has formally approved a0:01civilian nuclear cooperation agreement0:03with Saudi Arabia. The deal, signed July0:0522, allows American companies to build0:08Saudi civilian nuclear infrastructure0:10and could clear the way for a uranium0:11enrichment facility on Saudi soil. But0:14the pact is being submitted to Congress0:15without requiring the kingdom to give up0:17the ability to build a nuclear weapon.0:19The deal reshapes the Middle East power0:21balance. Washington greenlights the0:23partnership. Saudi Arabia gains nuclear0:25technology and neighbors Israel and0:27Iran, both deeply concerned about0:29proliferation, now face a nuclear0:31capable Riyadh on the map. The contrast0:33is stark. The deal greenlights American0:36companies to build out a Saudi civilian0:37program. Uranium enrichment is not0:40explicitly barred and crucially it does0:42not demand that Saudi Arabia renounce0:44the ability to develop a nuclear weapon,0:46a safeguard standard in most such0:47agreements. If enrichment goes ahead,0:49Saudi Arabia would gain the capability0:51to produce weapons-grade material.0:53Experts warn this could trigger a0:55regional arms race. Non-proliferation0:57experts warn the arrangement is0:59dangerously loose by skipping standard1:01safeguards. They say the pact could lead1:03to a nuclear-armed Saudi Arabia within1:05years and spark an arms race from Cairo1:08to Tehran. The agreement now heads to1:10Congress for review, where it is1:11expected to face bipartisan opposition.1:14Lawmakers have already signaled they may1:16block any deal that fails to demand1:17Saudi Arabia forswear a nuclear weapon.1:20The coming weeks will determine whether1:21this partnership moves forward or gets1:23shelved on Capitol Hill.Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗