In a significant policy reversal ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to Riyadh next week, Washington has abandoned its insistence that Saudi Arabia establish diplomatic ties with Israel before nuclear cooperation talks can proceed, according to exclusive information obtained by Reuters from sources familiar with the negotiations.
Reuters reported that the United States has dropped its demand for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel as a prerequisite for advancing civil nuclear cooperation talks, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
This policy shift represents a significant concession by Washington. During former President Joe Biden's administration, nuclear negotiations were part of a broader US-Saudi arrangement that included normalization with Israel and Riyadh's aspiration for a defense treaty with Washington.
According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained it would not recognize Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state, which hampered Biden administration efforts to expand the Abraham Accords signed during Trump's first term. Those agreements saw the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco normalize relations with Israel. Reuters reported that progress toward Saudi recognition of Israel stalled due to outrage in Arab countries over the Gaza conflict, while nuclear talks had also faced obstacles related to Washington's non-proliferation concerns.
In what might indicate a new approach, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated during his April visit to the kingdom that Saudi Arabia and the United States were on a "pathway" to a civil nuclear agreement, Reuters mentioned.
When asked for comment, US National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt told Reuters, "When we have something to announce, you will hear it from the President. Any reports on this are speculative."
Reuters noted that the Saudi government media office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Even without the normalization requirement and despite separating the issue from a broader defense treaty, one source told Reuters that an agreement is not yet within close reach.
According to Reuters, one persistent obstacle is Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act, which permits cooperation with countries developing civil nuclear capabilities but outlines non-proliferation criteria, including restrictions on uranium enrichment.
Reuters pointed out that Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has previously expressed the kingdom's intention to enrich uranium and market the product.
One source informed Reuters that Saudi Arabia remains unwilling to sign a so-called 123 agreement that would prohibit enrichment or reprocessing of plutonium produced in reactors – two pathways that could potentially lead to nuclear weapons development.
Secretary Wright previously told Reuters that a 123 agreement would be a necessary condition for any deal.
However, Wright has indicated there are various ways to structure an agreement that would satisfy both countries' objectives, according to Reuters. One solution under consideration involves a "black box" arrangement where only US personnel would have access to a uranium enrichment facility on Saudi soil, the same source explained to Reuters.
Reuters reported that Riyadh aims to develop nuclear generation capacity as part of its strategy to diversify its economy beyond oil. Nuclear power could also allow more crude oil to be exported.
Arms control advocates have previously voiced concerns about a Saudi nuclear program because Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, has stated Saudi Arabia would quickly develop nuclear weapons if regional rival Iran did so, Reuters noted.
US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday described the talks with Iran as "so far, so good" and indicated there was potential for an agreement that would reintegrate Iran into the global economy while preventing it from acquiring nuclear weapons, Reuters reported.
Saudi Arabia and the United States plan to discuss several major economic deals during Trump's visit next week, with the US prepared to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package valued at well over $100 billion, according to sources.
Trump has suggested Riyadh should increase a planned investment package in the US to $1 trillion from an initial $600 billion, Reuters noted.
This trip marks Trump's second international visit, following a brief journey to Rome for the pope's funeral, since returning to office in January. During his first term, an extravagant trip to Saudi Arabia constituted his first overseas stop.
