President Donald Trump has formally submitted a landmark civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review, while maintaining that the pact will only move forward if the kingdom normalizes relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.
The classified document was transmitted to Capitol Hill on Monday, August 24, as required under Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act. The proposed 30-year agreement would allow U.S. companies to play a central role in developing Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear infrastructure.
The submission begins a 90-session-day review period during which Congress can examine the agreement. Unless lawmakers pass a joint resolution rejecting the pact during this period, it can take effect without a separate vote by either chamber.
The nuclear accord was finalized and signed on July 22 by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. It is structured as a “123 Agreement,” a type of civilian nuclear cooperation pact authorized under U.S. law.
The deal, if approved, would facilitate the construction of AP1000 nuclear reactors using U.S. technology in Saudi Arabia, a project valued at tens of billions of dollars that would benefit companies like Westinghouse.
The day after the agreement was signed, Trump announced that the deal was contingent on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, the U.S.-brokered framework that established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
“The Civil Nuclear Deal… will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords,” Trump said in a social media post last month.
On Tuesday, a Trump administration official confirmed that “the president’s position has not changed that the agreement will only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords.”
The agreement has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and nonproliferation advocates because it could potentially allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium on its own territory, raising concerns about the spread of nuclear capabilities in the region.
Trump has said there would be “no enrichment of material” under the deal. However, unlike the “gold standard” restrictions accepted by the United Arab Emirates in its 2009 civil nuclear agreement with the U.S., the Saudi pact does not explicitly bar the kingdom from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear waste.
Previous civil nuclear pacts with other countries have typically been made public, though some have contained classified annexes. The Saudi agreement was submitted to Congress as a classified document, which is unusual.
Saudi officials have made clear that normalizing relations with Israel would first require the establishment of a clear path for Palestinian statehood. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood, saying it would be untenable for Israel’s security.
The Saudis were reportedly taken by surprise by Trump’s July 23 announcement linking the nuclear deal to normalization.
The agreement is now under congressional review. Lawmakers have 90 days while in session to examine the proposal. If Congress passes a joint resolution opposing the agreement during that period, it could be blocked — but stopping the accord would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a potential presidential veto.
What is the Trump Saudi nuclear deal sent to Congress?
It is a proposed 30-year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement that would allow U.S. companies to help develop Saudi Arabia’s nuclear infrastructure. It was formally transmitted to Congress on August 24 for review.
When was the Saudi nuclear deal signed?
The agreement was signed on July 22, 2026, by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
What is Trump’s condition for the nuclear deal?
Trump has said the agreement will only move forward if Saudi Arabia joins the Abraham Accords and normalizes relations with Israel.
What is the Abraham Accords?
The Abraham Accords are U.S.-brokered agreements reached in 2020 and 2021 that established diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
How long does Congress have to review the nuclear deal?
Congress has 90 days while in session to review the agreement. If no joint resolution is passed to block it, the pact can take effect automatically.
Could this allow Saudi Arabia to develop nuclear weapons?
The agreement is for civilian nuclear energy. However, it does not explicitly bar Saudi Arabia from uranium enrichment, a concern for nonproliferation advocates. Trump has said there will be no enrichment under the deal.
What is Saudi Arabia’s position on normalizing with Israel?
Saudi officials have said they will only normalize relations with Israel if there is a clear and irreversible path to Palestinian statehood.
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