US-Saudi Nuclear Deal… A Strategic Partnership That Opens the Door to Enrichment and Raises Questions About Washington's Policy Towards Iran

Washington MessageWashington – Said Arikat – 23/7/2026News AnalysisThe United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a civilian nuclear agreement described by both sides as a pivotal milestone in their strategic relations. It opens the door for the development of Saudi Arabia's peaceful nuclear program using American technology, with the potential to enable the Kingdom in the future to enrich uranium within regulatory frameworks and safeguards related to safety and nuclear non-proliferation. The US Department of Energy stated that the agreement will boost US nuclear technology exports, create thousands of jobs, and serve the economic and security interests of both countries, emphasizing that the cooperation will adhere to the highest standards of nuclear safety and security.The agreement spans thirty years and is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars. It allows American companies to build and operate civilian nuclear facilities within the Kingdom and stipulates a joint US-Saudi study to assess the possibility of uranium enrichment within Saudi territory. If Washington approves after the study is completed, an American facility for nuclear fuel production could be established within the Kingdom. However, the agreement stipulates that if the United States refuses to grant Riyadh the right to enrichment, Saudi Arabia will not pursue the project independently or in cooperation with any other foreign party for ten years.The agreement is scheduled to be submitted to the US Congress, where it is expected to spark a broad political debate regarding regulatory safeguards and inspection mechanisms, despite Republicans holding a majority in both the House and Senate. This gives President Donald Trump's administration a significant opportunity to secure its approval.The agreement holds particular importance because it represents a shift in US nuclear policy towards its allies in the Middle East. Unlike the nuclear agreement signed by the United States with the UAE in 2009, which included what was known as the "gold standard" based on Abu Dhabi's permanent renunciation of uranium enrichment and nuclear fuel reprocessing, the new agreement leaves the door open for Saudi Arabia to acquire this capability in the future after completing the joint study and obtaining American approval. This is a notable change in Washington's approach to nuclear energy programs in the region.This shift has generated widespread interest among nuclear non-proliferation experts, who believe that the issue is not about building civilian nuclear reactors as much as it is about possessing the nuclear fuel cycle, which provides any country with expertise and infrastructure that can be developed in the future if the security or political environment changes. Even with full adherence to international safeguards, possessing enrichment technology remains one of the most sensitive elements of nuclear programs due to its long-term strategic dimensions.The agreement acquires an additional political dimension due to the timing of its announcement. It comes as the United States continues its military operations against Iran, under the pretext of preventing it from acquiring uranium enrichment capabilities that could lead to the production of a nuclear weapon, at a time when the Trump administration is requesting additional financial appropriations from Congress to fund the military campaign, whose cost has significantly increased. This timing raises questions about how Washington reconciles its refusal for Iran to possess uranium enrichment capabilities with its approval of an agreement that may allow Saudi Arabia to possess similar capabilities in the future, albeit under international supervision and safeguards.Although American officials emphasize the difference between the two cases, arguing that the Saudi program will be subject to strict American and international oversight, while Washington accuses Iran of seeking to use its nuclear program for military purposes, this explanation does not prevent accusations of double standards from emerging. This narrative is expected to be exploited politically and diplomatically by Tehran in the coming period.The controversy is not limited to Iran alone, as Israel also views the agreement with caution, fearing that granting Saudi Arabia the possibility of uranium enrichment could break one of the fundamental principles upon which nuclear non-proliferation policy in the Middle East has been based, and encourage other countries in the region to demand similar rights. A number of former Israeli officials and experts believe that the danger lies not in the current Saudi program, but in the nuclear infrastructure that could become available in the future if political or security circumstances change.It is noteworthy that the agreement makes no mention of linking nuclear cooperation to the issue of Saudi-Israeli normalization, contrary to what successive US administrations have sought, which considered nuclear cooperation as part of a broader package that included achieving a breakthrough in the normalization file. The absence of this condition reflects a shift in US policy priorities, which now appear more interested in strengthening its strategic partnership with Riyadh in the face of growing Chinese and Russian influence, even without progress in Saudi-Israeli relations.In contrast, the agreement has economic dimensions no less important than its political ones. It offers American companies huge opportunities in nuclear reactor construction, engineering, technology, operation, maintenance, and training over three decades. It also enhances the United States' ability to regain some of its position in the global nuclear energy market, which has seen a significant expansion of Russian and Chinese roles in recent years, especially in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.The US Congress is likely to be the next testing ground for the agreement, where debate is expected to focus on regulatory safeguards, inspection mechanisms, and the future of enrichment rights, more than on the principle of nuclear cooperation itself. If the Trump administration succeeds in passing the agreement, it could establish a new phase in US-Saudi relations and redraw the security and energy equations in the Gulf for decades to come. However, at the same time, it will continue to face a political test in Washington's ability to convince the international community that granting Saudi Arabia what it refuses to grant Iran does not represent a contradiction in its principles, but rather reflects a difference in the nature of relations, safeguards, and international commitments of each country.