The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a nuclear cooperation agreement that would permit the kingdom to enrich uranium in the future.
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a “peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement” and a corresponding “bilateral safeguards agreement,” according to a Department of Energy statement.
The full terms have not yet been released, but the timing has sparked controversy because the U.S. is engaged in a campaign to prevent Iran from developing domestic uranium‑enrichment capabilities and building a nuclear weapon.
Negotiations on a civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia have been ongoing for years, spanning the Trump administration and President Joe Biden’s term. Previous attempts stalled largely due to concerns from non‑proliferation advocates that the arrangement could provide Riyadh a pathway to develop a nuclear weapon.
The agreement will be sent to Congress for review, where it may encounter opposition from legislators concerned about insufficient monitoring safeguards to limit Saudi uranium enrichment.
Riyadh has previously stated that it would seek a nuclear weapon if Iran were to acquire one, a claim Tehran denies. Over many years and multiple administrations, U.S. officials have also worried that Saudi Arabia might turn to other nuclear suppliers—such as China or Russia, which maintain different non‑proliferation standards—should the United States withhold the technology it desires.
In a recent report to Congress, the U.S. administration argued that approving the deal is essential to “prevent strategic competition from seizing an opportunity to undermine United States national security interests for decades to come.”
The report further contended that the U.S. must capitalize on the agreement to “re‑establish our leadership in the global civilian nuclear‑energy market and reap the benefits of expanded influence in foreign countries that host our reactors.”
The U.S. Department of Energy projected that the new partnership will expand American nuclear‑technology exports, generate high‑paying U.S. jobs, and strengthen America’s energy and national‑security posture.
Secretary Wright stated that the agreements “reflect our two nations’ shared commitment to strengthening U.S.–Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad.”
He added that “these agreements uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and non‑proliferation, while relying on the world’s best nuclear technology and scientists, designed right here in the United States.”
Nevertheless, the pact is unlikely to include the enhanced International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitoring provisions—known as the Additional Protocol—that were part of Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement.
Westinghouse CEO Dan Sumner told CBS that the agreement “represents a landmark step that strengthens energy security, expands opportunities for U.S. industry and workers, and drives significant long‑term economic growth and investment benefits for both nations.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate a day earlier to seek additional funding, underscoring the U.S. effort to impede Iran’s pursuit of uranium‑enrichment capabilities and nuclear weapons.
Critics, including Defense Priorities’ Rosemary Kelanic, warned that providing Saudi Arabia with enrichment technology amid the conflict with Iran is reckless and could pressure Iran to accelerate its weapons program.
Supporters argue that the agreement reflects a belief that Saudi Arabia has matured and now seeks to diversify its energy portfolio beyond oil.
In a related development, Saudi Arabia and nuclear‑armed Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact following an Israeli strike on Qatar targeting Hamas officials. Pakistan’s defense minister indicated that his country’s nuclear capabilities could be made available to Saudi Arabia if required, a move viewed as a warning to Israel, the region’s sole nuclear‑armed state.