The Trump administration has approved a 30-year nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia. The deal waives standard International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, a departure from long-standing U.S. non-proliferation policy.
What the deal allows
The agreement permits the United States to share nuclear technology with the kingdom. Typically, such deals require the recipient country to forgo enrichment and reprocessing capabilities. This one does not. That shift has drawn attention from lawmakers and arms control advocates.
A shift in non-proliferation stance
For decades, Washington insisted on the so-called gold standard — a commitment not to build enrichment or reprocessing plants. The Saudi deal breaks that pattern. The administration has not publicly detailed the rationale for the waiver. The 30-year timeline locks in the arrangement across future administrations.
The Iran factor
The move comes as the administration pursues a broader Middle East strategy. Separately, prediction markets show a 30.5% probability of a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal in 2026. That suggests some expectation of a diplomatic resolution with Tehran, even as Washington deepens ties with Riyadh. The two tracks — a nuclear partnership with Saudi Arabia and potential talks with Iran — could reshape the region's security landscape.
Whether the deal will be submitted to Congress for review remains unclear. Lawmakers have previously pushed for stricter oversight of nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
