Trump Urges Saudi Recognition of Israel as Prerequisite for Nuclear Agreement

During Trump’s first term as U.S. president, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords, marking a historic normalization of relations between Israel and two Arab nations—the first such breakthrough in decades.

Sudan, Morocco, and Kazakhstan have since joined the accords as well.

Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to Trump’s remarks, which follow criticism from experts warning that the nuclear deal announced on Wednesday could increase the risk of future nuclear proliferation in an already volatile region.

It remained unclear whether the requirement to join the Abraham Accords was included in the undisclosed text of the nuclear deal, or whether Saudi Arabia had already accepted that condition.

Israel, meanwhile, welcomed Trump’s statement.

Posting on X, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Saudi Arabia’s accession to the accords would represent ‘an historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East.’

The statement did not reference the nuclear deal. However, Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat had previously said his country could manage the situation if Saudi Arabia pursued nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, though it maintains a policy of neither confirming nor denying this capability.

The U.S. Department of Energy described the U.S.-Saudi agreement as a ‘peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement’ that would grant ‘great access for American companies to Saudi Arabia’s nuclear energy program.’

The nuclear issue has been central to the months-long tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran, with Iran repeatedly denying Western accusations that it seeks to develop nuclear weapons.

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