{"id":370505,"date":"2026-07-23T03:30:34","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T22:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=370505"},"modified":"2026-07-23T03:30:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T22:00:34","slug":"saudi-arabia-nuclear-pact-with-u-s-may-create-path-to-uranium-enrichment-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/23\/saudi-arabia-nuclear-pact-with-u-s-may-create-path-to-uranium-enrichment-national\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Arabia nuclear pact with U.S. may create path to uranium enrichment – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The U.S. and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday forged a brand new agreement that would potentially provide the dominion with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program.<\/p>\n

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman formally signed the nuclear cooperation agreement, often called a 123 agreement, alongside what the Trump administration described as a \u201cbilateral safeguards agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n

The U.S. administration released scant details of the deal, however the framework paves the best way for the constructing of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia after a joint U.S.-Saudi study, in line with two people conversant in the matter who weren’t authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese agreements reflect our two nations\u2019 shared commitment to strengthening U.S.-Saudi industrial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad,\u201d Wright said in a press release. \u201cRest assured, these agreements uphold the best standards of nuclear safety and nonproliferation, while counting on the world\u2019s best nuclear technology and scientists, designed right here in the US.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to move off emerging criticism of the choice under questioning by reporters concerning the risk that helping the Saudis fulfill their long-standing desire to counterpoint their very own uranium may lead to latest rounds of nuclear proliferation and competition in a volatile region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe U.S. shouldn’t be going to succeed in any agreement with any country on this planet that results in the chance of proliferation,\u201d said Rubio, who was traveling within the Philippines on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The agreement doesn’t include the International Atomic Energy Agency \u2018s Additional Protocol, which might allow for more monitoring, inspections and verification, in line with certainly one of the people conversant in the choice.<\/p>\n

The deal is anticipated to last 30 years and involve U.S. firms in developing this system. The Energy Department in a press release said it is going to be submitted for review to Congress, where it could face opposition.<\/p>\n

The announcement comes through the war against Iran launched by the U.S. and Israel, partly, to wipe out Tehran\u2019s ability to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran has insisted its nuclear enrichment program is peaceful.<\/p>\n

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Ahead of the announcement, Alexander Bollfrass, a nuclear expert on the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, called the deal \u201ca revolutionary latest approach\u201d to nuclear nonproliferation policy.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe revolutionary aspect of this agreement is that the US shouldn’t be asking Saudi Arabia to abide by the best possible safeguards, internationally monitored safeguards which might be standard and can be found today, but as an alternative is willing to a minimum of theoretically transfer highly sensitive technology without the identical level of oversight that one would expect,\u201d Bollfrass said.<\/p>\n

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Each President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden tried to succeed in a nuclear cope with the dominion to share American technology.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tEnrichment could open the door to weaponization\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Nonproliferation experts warn any spinning centrifuges inside Saudi Arabia could open the door to a possible weapons program for the dominion, something its assertive de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has suggested he could pursue if Tehran obtains an atomic bomb.<\/p>\n

Wright traveled to Saudi Arabia last 12 months shortly before Trump visited and discussed constructing out the dominion\u2019s industrial nuclear power industry along with his Saudi counterpart. The U.S. Department of Energy has not responded to multiple requests for comment.<\/p>\n

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Already, Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact after Israel launched an attack on Qatar targeting Hamas officials. Pakistan\u2019s defense minister then said his nation\u2019s nuclear program \u201cshall be made available\u201d to Saudi Arabia if needed, something seen as a warning for Israel, long believed to be the Middle East\u2019s only nuclear-armed state.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tSome lawmakers are hesitant about giving Saudis enrichment capability\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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