Washington ties Saudi civil nuclear deal to normalization with “Israel”

WASHINGTON, July 27 (YPA) –  The Trump administration has said that a proposed US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement will move forward only if Riyadh agrees to normalize relations with “Israel” under the Abraham Accords, according to statements by US officials.

President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the proposed agreement between the US and Saudi energy ministries would be limited to peaceful civilian purposes and would not allow uranium enrichment on Saudi soil.

He added that Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords is a prerequisite for the deal, indicating that the agreement would not proceed without normalization.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also said the proposed arrangement is intended to prioritize the involvement of U.S. companies in Saudi Arabia’s civil nuclear sector.

She added that linking the nuclear agreement to normalization with Israel was an initiative put forward by Trump rather than a request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing confidence that Riyadh could eventually join the accords.

The proposed conditions come amid reports of increased U.S. diplomatic efforts to encourage additional Arab and Muslim countries to establish formal ties with “Israel.”

According to media reports, the Trump administration has held discussions with regional leaders aimed at expanding participation in the Abraham Accords.

Analysts say the linkage between access to civilian nuclear technology and normalization reflects Washington’s broader regional strategy of combining strategic, economic, and security incentives to encourage closer ties with Israel.

The issue also places renewed attention on Saudi Arabia’s long-standing position that any normalization with Israel should be tied to meaningful progress toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

@E.Y.M