United States President Donald Trump has declared that a newly agreed civilian nuclear partnership with Saudi Arabia will only move forward if the kingdom establishes diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
Trump made the announcement on Thursday, adding a significant geopolitical condition to the proposed 30-year nuclear cooperation agreement between Washington and Riyadh.
Under the proposed deal, American companies would support Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear programme, while the kingdom would be prohibited from enriching uranium. However, some experts have raised concerns that the agreement may not include sufficient safeguards to prevent uranium enrichment for potential military use.
The president’s statement came a day after the US Department of Energy and the Saudi government jointly announced the civilian nuclear partnership without mentioning any requirement for Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel.
In a post on social media, Trump said Riyadh’s participation in the Abraham Accords was a key condition for the agreement, a position that surprised observers because it had not been included in the official announcement.
Responding to questions over the omission, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration remained committed to expanding the Abraham Accords and that Trump had consistently encouraged Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic ties with Israel.
“The president is the final dealmaker,” Leavitt said, adding that Trump had urged Saudi Arabia on numerous occasions to join the regional peace initiative.
The development comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East.
In Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthi movement threatened to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising concerns over a broader regional conflict that could disrupt global oil supplies and international shipping.
The Houthis also claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, as international crude oil prices climbed to around $100 per barrel.
Trump warned the group that any continued attacks on commercial shipping would attract “major military punishment.”
Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed a resolution seeking to restrict further US military action against Iran without congressional approval. The measure passed by a vote of 214 to 208, reflecting growing bipartisan concern over the expanding conflict, although it remains largely symbolic.
Lawmakers also approved a Republican-backed $95 billion spending package to fund military operations related to the Iran conflict and other White House priorities. The proposal now awaits consideration by the Senate before it can become law.
