US and Saudi Arabia Agree on Nuclear Cooperation Deal

The United States and Saudi Arabia have reached a nuclear cooperation agreement, announced by the administration of US President Donald Trump amid efforts by Washington and Riyadh to strengthen ties. The US Department of Energy on Wednesday welcomed the deal as a “historic” step, stating that American companies would provide nuclear technology to the kingdom. The agreement includes a pact under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954—known as a “123 agreement”—as well as an “accompanying bilateral safeguards agreement,” the department said. “These agreements reflect the shared commitment of both countries to strengthen US-Saudi commercial relations, as well as to deliver domestic prosperity and security for our allies abroad,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement. “Rest assured, 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.” Several US media reports indicated that the deal would allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium domestically, rather than importing nuclear fuel from the US. The Department of Energy’s statement did not detail the enrichment aspect. If those reports prove true, the deal is likely to face opposition in Washington. The statement described the deal as a “multi-billion dollar partnership that will span decades” and said it would now be submitted to Congress for review. Trump, along with Israel, launched an effort in February to pressure Iran to prevent it from enriching uranium and acquiring nuclear weapons—a goal Tehran denies. The United States and Israel also bombed Iranian nuclear facilities last year. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) does not prohibit uranium enrichment—a process to separate and collect the most radioactive variant or isotope of uranium atoms. However, uranium enriched to high levels can be used to produce nuclear weapons. Israel is the only country in the region believed to possess a nuclear arsenal. The Trump administration stated that the deal with Saudi Arabia would create jobs in the US, “strengthen global non-proliferation standards”, and solidify the strategic partnership with Riyadh. The announcement comes amid escalating conflict between the US-Israel and Iran. During the hostilities, Iran has launched missiles and drones targeting bases where US troops are stationed in the region, as well as energy facilities in the Gulf.